‘Significant numbers’ of ISIS terrorists present in Kerala, Karnataka: UN report on terrorism

A UN report on terrorism has warned that there are “significant numbers” of ISIS terrorists in Kerala and Karnataka, noting that the al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent terror group, which reportedly has between 150 and 200 militants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, is planning attacks in the region.

The 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities said that the al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under the Taliban umbrella from Nimruz, Helmand and Kandahar provinces of Afghanistan.

“The group reportedly has between 150 and 200 members from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan. The current leader of AQIS is Osama Mahmood, who succeeded the late Asim Umar AQIS is reportedly planning retaliation operations in the region to avenge the death of its former leader,” it said.

According to the report, one member state reported that the ISIL Indian affiliate (Hind Wilayah), which was announced on May 10, 2019, has between 180 and 200 members.

ISIS declared a new “province” in India in May 2019:

Last year, ISIS claimed that it has created a new “province” in India through its Amaq News Agency. An area located within the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir was called by the ISIS as “Wilayah of Hind” or Hind province. The announcement, first of its kind, was made after clashes between the terrorists and security forces in Kashmir.

Earlier, ISIS terrorists active in Kashmir were linked with its so-called Khorasan Province branch, which was established in 2015 to cover “Afghanistan, Pakistan and nearby lands”.

ISIS terrorists active in Kerala and Karnataka:

Recently, a charge-sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency in the murder of Special Sub Inspector Wilson exposed the nexus of the ISIS terrorists active and flourishing in the states of Kerala and Karnataka. The preliminary investigation in the murder of SSI Wilson had revealed that his murderers were “self-declared jihadists” who killed the police personnel to avenge the arrest of their ISIS associates—Mohammed Haneef Khan (29), Imran Khan (32) and Mohammed Zaid (24) by the Tamil Nadu police in Bengaluru in January 2020.

According to the investigation, Khaja Mohideen was found to be a member of the banned terror outfit Islamic State of Iraq and Syria(ISIS). Since May 2019, he had indoctrinated and radicalised Abdul Shameem and Thowfeek on the jihadi ideology, provided them with training and arms, and enlisted them to carry out terror attacks against the establishment.