Telangana Police is dipping into its Naxalite-era experience in surveillance and methods of deterrence to keep a watch on youths who are susceptible to online radicalisation and recruitment by the Iraqi militant group Islamic State.

Officials believe that more and more youths are getting influenced by the social networking and propaganda websites of IS.

“Simply put, we know what you are doing online and we have drawn a line which, if you cross, we may feel the need to inform your parents and arrange for your counseling,’’ a top intelligence official who is tracking the activities of many youths in Hyderabad and other Telangana districts said.

Faced with a similar situation 10-15 years back at the height of the Naxalite movement when youths would attend Naxal meetings in rural areas or meet Naxals, police initially used to haul them to stations and book cases. “After coming out of jail, even those who did not intend to join the movement went and joined in hordes. It was a huge setback. We changed our strategy; we increased vigilance and used counseling as a deterrent. Instead of arresting them we would show them proof of their activities and then guide them back into society. We were able to deter more number of people this way than by using force. We are using the same tactic now to deter potential IS recruits,’’ the official said.

The incident in which four Hyderabad engineering dropouts who were detained by West Bengal Police last September while they were on their way to Iraq appears to be one of the many cases when Telangana Police’s surveillance techniques came in handy. Intelligence officials say that since then, 16 individuals who wanted to join IS were prevented in the nick of time as they prepared to leave.

“Parents or relatives of many more have been tipped-off quietly about their activities and told to take necessary steps. In the cases where counseling was needed, we took the help of parents, imams and community elders. When they are told that his son or relative was about to go to Syria to wage jihad, it is like a bolt from the blue for them,’’ the official said.

“We caught up with US-returned engineer Salman Mohiuddin a little late, but he had to be arrested because he was completely radicalised. Munawad Salman’s name was inadvertently made public… but he was not the radical type but simply fell into the propaganda.

“We are keeping it extremely low-key and do not declare names because then they get branded which makes it difficult for them to lead a normal life,” the official said.

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