New Delhi: Dreaded terror group ISIS and all its affiliate organizations, responsible for series of savage attacks and killings in Iraq and Syria, have been banned in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Recruitment of youths to the outfit from India and their radicalization is a matter of serious concern for the country especially with regard to its likely impact on national security when such youth return to India, the home ministry said while banning the terrorist group.

The Islamic State (alternatively called theIslamic State of Iraq and Levant or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Daish) and all its manifestations have been declared as outlawed in India under the UAPA, a notification issued by the ministry said.

Home minister Rajnath Singh had said in Parliament on 16 December 2014 that the Middle-East group had already been declared banned in India under a United Nations schedule.

According to the latest notification, the outfit is operating in Iraq and neighbouring countries and has been resorting to terrorist actions to consolidate its position in that area by recruiting youth for ‘Global Jehad’ to achieve the objective of establishing its own ‘caliphate’ by overthrowing democratically elected governments.

The group is also resorting to terrorism in the form of killing of innocent civilians and security forces.

Four Mumbai youths had gone to Iraq-Syria in May 2014 to join ISIS. One of them returned late last year while the whereabouts of the remaining three are yet not known.

A Bangalore-based executive of a multi-national company was arrested in December last year for allegedly running a pro-ISIS twitter handle. Last month, another person from Hyderabad was barred from travelling to Syria, ostensibly to join ISIS.

Recently, retired Intelligence Bureau chief Asif Ibrahim had said there was an imminent danger of Indian youths moving to the conflict zone (Iraq-Syria), emerging as a role model, and such developments may directly or indirectly pose a threat to the country. “The threat potential is accentuated with some lower rung elements returning from conflict zone," he had said.

Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.

Share Via