The Indian government has introduced a ban on support for Takfiri ISIL militants, days after security forces arrested a man on charges of running an influential Twitter account promoting the terrorists’ fight in Syria and Iraq.
“We had taken cognizance of ISIL in Iraq and Syria activities in other countries,” India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament on Tuesday. “As a first step we have banned this outfit in India.”
He added, “It is true the number of Indians in the group or involved in its activities is only a handful. But I want to make clear we are taking this seriously.”
On December 13, Indian police detained a 24-year-old man, identified as Mehdi Masroor Biswas, in southern city of Bangalore, saying he was running the pro-ISIL @ShamiWitness account, which had nearly 18,000 followers and was one of the main sources of information about the ISIL militant group in English.
India’s reluctance to impose the ban on ISIL was due to concerns over the fate of 39 construction workers, who have gone missing in Iraq and are believed to be held captive by members of the terrorist group.
A recent UN Security Council report says more than 15,000 militants from over 80 nationalities, including Americans and Europeans, have joined terrorist groups fighting the Syrian government.
Meanwhile, the Soufan Group, a New York-based intelligence firm, estimated in June that at least 3,000 militants of European origin have been active in several militancy-riddled regions across the Arab country.
US media reports say more than 100 US citizens have also traveled to Syria to fight President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The latest figures come as American and European opponents of the Syrian government voice concern as militants appear to be biting the hand that feeds them.
The ISIL militants currently control swathes of territory across Syria and Iraq. They have carried out heinous atrocities in both countries, including mass executions and beheadings of people.
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