T govt to go tough on Hyderabadi youths who were about to join ISIS

The Union Home Ministry has asked the Telangana government to get tough against three youths, who were intercepted in Nagpur minutes before they were to fly to Srinagar to allegedly join jihadi groups first and then ISIS.

The youths Mohd Abdulla Basith, Syed Omer Farooq Hussaini and Maaz Hasan Farooq were arrested last night upon arrival in Hyderabad after a clear instruction from the Home Ministry not to let them off for the second time, official sources said.

The three youths were let off earlier in September 2014 when they attempted to go to Afghanistan, Iraq-Syria via Bangladesh, along with two others Abrar and Noman, have reportedly confessed to have jihadi ideology and in this regard they entered into criminal conspiracy and tried to go to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria in order to join hands with jihadi forces of ISIS/ISIL to wage war against states – India or elsewhere.

Security officials were of the opinion that first time offenders can be handled with a lenient approach but repeat offenders have to be taken seriously and action have to be taken, sources said.

“A message has to be sent to everyone that if anyone willingly tries to commit same mistake again and again, he or she has to face law. The message has to be loud and clear. There will be no leniency to the repeat offenders”, they said.

Basith, Hussaini and Farooq, all cousins and aged around 20-22, were brought to Hyderabad yesterday and after sustained interrogation put under arrest.

According to Hans India report Abdul Basith, an engineering dropout from Chandrayangutta had developed ample contacts with fighters of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), who guided him and his cousins to join the terror group.

Basith, a brilliant student from childhood, was rusticated from the engineering college for his mischievous behaviour. Later, he was forced to stop his Interior decoration course at a private institute in Himayathnagar by his parents.

according to the locals Basith was a genius guy and used to teach mathematics to his juniors and neighbors for free.

Basith came under intelligence radar in 2014 when he actively participated in protests against Gaza attacks in 2014. He commented aggressively on sensitive posts on social media.

The youths were today produced in a local court which remanded them in judicial custody. Police is expected to seek their custody tomorrow for further investigation and examine witnesses.

The youths, related to former president of Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) late Syed Salahuddin, were booked on charges under sections of IPC 121 (of waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the government), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against government), 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), and also under relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.