New Delhi: Investigation in a series of cases by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed that Islamic State (IS) has a strong presence in the southern states of India, the Ministry of Home Affairs told the Rajya Sabha Wednesday.
According to the MHA, the NIA has registered 17 cases related to the presence of IS in the southern states of Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and arrested 122 suspects.
Responding to a question by BJP leader Dr Vinay P. Sahasrabuddhe, Minister of State (Home) G Kishan Reddy said the IS was most active in southern states.
“Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have revealed that the IS is most active in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.
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‘Notified all IS-related organisations, watching cyber space’
Reddy said these outfits found linked to the IS have been notified as terrorist organisations.
“Islamic State/ 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 Organization and included in the First Schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by the Central Government,” he said in reply to a question.
Reddy also said the IS was using various internet-based social media platforms to propagate its ideology.
“Cyber space is being closely watched in this regard by the agencies concerned and action is taken as per law.”
When asked if the government has any information on how these people are being funded and whether they are getting any foreign funding to carry out terror activities, Reddy did not give a detailed reply.
Instead, he simply said, “Yes sir”, without divulging further details on where the foreign funding was coming from, and how it was being used.
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