NEW DELHI: Intelligence operatives questioning the five Indians deported recently by the UAE for indulging in “undesirable activities” on its soil, have not found anything yet to link them to any known or identified module of the Islamic State. In fact, sources indicated that prime suspect, an Indian national born and brought up in UAE, appears to be mentally unbalanced, going by his behaviour and actions during the questioning.

A source following the interrogation of the five deported youth, known to one other, said the suspect was making incoherent statements and displaying “weird” behaviour. Incidentally, he is well-educated and had even gone to UK to pursue an engineering course. It is not clear if he completed the course, but after he returned from UK, a perceptible change was seen in him. “These could be signs of radicalisation,” said a officer.

The suspect was reported missing by his UAE-based parents after he told them that he was going out for a get-together with friends but did not return. The UAE law enforcement authorities tracked him and it was during his questioning that the suspect claimed to have links with IS.

UAE, after detaining the five for three months, deported them to India.

Each of the five youths had performed Umrah (religious journey to Mecca ) at a very early age. Indian agencies suspect that they met one other while on Umrah and then remained in touch.

Sources said while the youths seem to be radicalised, “nothing has been found yet to prove that they were in touch with any IS operative or module in India or abroad, or that they were planning any action in either India or abroad”.

