Terror outfits continue to get recruits in coast

Mangaluru: Despite Muslim religious heads and scholars trying to prevent the younger generation from joining terror outfits like ISIS, security experts feel that terror outfits continue to brainwash and get good number of sympathisers into its fold in the region.

Officials fear that ISIS has not only added new recruits from the coastal region of Karnataka and Kerala but are also trying to increase the number of sympathisers which in the long run would help. Muslim religious heads repeatedly preach to members of the community, especially youth to keep themselves away from terror outfits like ISIS. They have been trying to ensure that youth do not indulge in anti national activities and also anti religious activities.

But based on intelligence and various developments, officials suspect that terror elements try to get their voice stronger and get sympathisers and also recruit youth from the coastal region. Many a time youth join terror outfits without the notice of the family members. However it also true that there is no clear picture about how many have terror link from the region.

“Recently two youth from Kerala with ISIS links were arrested at Turkish border. They had left home stating that they were going to join work in Bengaluru. But in reality they had ended up in ISIS camp. This is just an example. Most of the recruits leave home stating that they go out to work in North India or Gulf countries but they end up in ISIS camps,” a senior officer told Deccan Chronicle.

Thus it is very difficult to say how many have terror link or working for terror outfits. In most of the case police get to know about the person and his terror link after he is arrested or dies in the field.

“Most of the times youths join terror outfits without proper knowledge. Sleeper cells woo the target youths by displaying that Muslims are in danger in various parts of the world. They try to display that they are fighting for religion and give a religious touch to their activities. By such talks they brain wash the youth and get their sympathy. Some of them remain sympathisers and some of them join terror outfits,” he said.

He also added that increase in the number of sympathisers too was concerning as it could help terror elements to indulge in anti national activities easily with the help of these people.

“Muslim religious heads and scholars are trying their best to prevent youth from joining terror outfits. But this preaching is only during prayer time or religious functions. But the terror outfits through sleeper cells identify the target youth and brainwash them. These youth are not directly sent to Syria or similar countries but they are first posted in Gulf countries. They work from these countries and when required go to the war field,” he said.

Imam warns against radicalisation of youth

Maulana Maqsood Imran Rashadi, chief Imam of Jamia Masjid, near K.R. Market, had recently appealed to all other mosques in the state to raise awareness among the community to keep vigil against terrorist organisations trying to lure youth. In a circular he said that organisations bearing the name such as Daesh or Islamic State are bent upon luring educated Muslim youth to terrorist activities.

It is the responsibility of parents, guardians, and elders of the community to make sure that their children do not have any link with any of these organisations. He warned that Muslim youth falling prey to these organisations would not just harm their immediate family, but the entire community as well.

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