Bid to ward off lone wolf attacks

New Delhi: As the IS threat reached India’s neighbourhood, with the killing of an Italian aid worker in Dhaka this week, the government rolled out its counter-radicalisation strategy to ward off “lone wolf” attacks by radicalised elements, which is a “bigger danger” than an IS terror strike, it feels.

After Assam, Kerala has a significant number of IS sympathisers in India, causing the home ministry a lot of worry. Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are among other states under the scanner.

The MHA has devised a counter-radicalisation drive to wean youth away in a focused manner. “We have adopted a holistic approach to counter the threat on a large scale, and all states have been roped in,” an official said. The steps include counselling by families and community elders, monitoring potential IS handlers.