In a concerning development, Assam Police have detained a student from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) suspected of having ties to the terrorist organization ISIS. The student, identified as Sohail Ur Rahman from Jammu, was apprehended following the arrest of another IIT-G student, Tauseef Ali Farooqui, for expressing support for ISIS and declaring his intention to join the group.
Sohail Ur Rahman, who resides in Lohit hostel on the IIT-G campus, is reportedly a friend of Tauseef Ali Farooqui, the student previously arrested for his alleged involvement with ISIS. As the police intensify their investigation into potential ISIS links within the institution, Rahman has been taken into custody for questioning, led by Assam Police’s Special Task Force.
Amidst growing concerns over the possibility of an ISIS module operating within IIT-G, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has indicated that additional students and even faculty members are under surveillance in connection with the investigation. This suggests a broader effort to identify and neutralize any potential threat posed by individuals with extremist ideologies.
Tauseef Ali Farooqui, the student arrested earlier, has been remanded to police custody for ten days after appearing before a court. Described as deeply religious, Farooqui adheres to strict Islamic practices, regularly engaging in religious activities such as performing five daily namaz and studying the Quran. Despite denying direct involvement with ISIS, authorities assert that Farooqui’s radicalization poses a significant concern, prompting heightened scrutiny of other individuals within the academic institution.
The involvement of IIT-G students in alleged ISIS-related activities follows recent arrests elsewhere in Bharat, including that of Haris Farooqi, identified as the head of ISIS in India, and his associate Anurag Singh. The duo was apprehended by Assam Police’s Special Task Force after crossing into western Assam from Bangladesh and are currently in the custody of the National Investigation Agency.
The detention of the IIT-G student underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the spread of terrorist ideologies and prevent individuals from being lured into extremist groups. With investigations ongoing and surveillance measures heightened, authorities remain vigilant in their pursuit of ensuring the safety and security of the public, particularly within educational institutions where radicalization efforts may occur.
As the situation unfolds, the involvement of additional individuals in alleged ISIS-related activities will undoubtedly prompt further action from authorities, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to address and counter the threat of terrorism in all its forms.
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