Islamic State terrorist group most active in a dozen Indian states

Union Home Ministry has informed the Parliament that Islamic State (IS) is active in at least a dozen states in India. MoS Home G Kishan Reddy in a reply to an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha said on Tuesday that Islamic State is most active in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and a number of other states.

“Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have revealed that the Islamic State is most active in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir,” Reddy informed Rajya Sabha on a question asked by BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.

The Home Ministry has stated that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered 17 cases related to the presence of Islamic State in the southern states of Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and has arrested 122 accused persons.

Islamic State or Islamic State of Iraq and Levant/ Islamic State of Iraq and Syria/ Daish/ Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP)/ ISIS Wilayat Khorasan/ Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and all its manifestations have been notified as terrorist organisations and have been included in the First Schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by the Central Government, the MHA has stated.

Further, MHA has also stated that Islamic State is using various internet-based social media platforms to propagate its ideology. As a counter measure the cyber space is being closely watched in this regard by the agencies concerned and action is taken as per law.

In a written response, Reddy stated that some instances of individuals from different states, including southern states, having joined Islamic State (IS) have come to the notice of central and state security agencies.

Source: India Today