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Hundreds of youths who went to Qatar and Iran from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the past few months are under the scanner. Intelligence agencies from two states have stepped up vigil on workers heading to or returning from Iraq and Syria after receiving information that several youngsters from the country have joined the ranks of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), a militant group which holds sway in vast stretches in the two countries. Information gathered by the intelligence sleuths so far reveals that those who had gone or returned from Iraq and Syria recently were not working for the Isis, but some with radical ideology might have headed to the strife-torn areas via Qatar or Iran. "Thousands of migrants from the two states work in Qatar, especially near Doha. We have information that some of them crossed the border illegally and went to Iraq to join the rebel Isis. We also have information that some workers sneaked into Iraq through Iran," a top police officer of Telangana told TOI on condition of anonymity. Intelligence agencies across the country, especially south India, became alert after Isis chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made provocative statements against India. Abu Bakr also claimed that Isis had jihadists of various nationalities, including Indians, working for expansion of the caliphate from pockets of Iraq and Syria to surrounding countries including some western parts of India. Isis established a Caliphate headed by Al-Baghdadi recently. "The statements made by Isis chief have apparently attracted a lot of attention from the youth in India and also Indian migrant workers in the Middle East," a police source said. The intelligence agencies have information that several youngsters from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are already working for Isis and they also suspect that a small group of migrant workers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, who went to Doha, have crossed the border to work for Isis. Also, several Shia Muslims from India, including Telangana, visit Najaf and Karbala in Iraq on pilgrimage every year and intelligence sleuths think that some migrants from India may have joined Iraqi forces to fight Isis. "Some might join hands with the Shia-dominated Iraqi government and fight against Isis. Most of these migrants are from a poor background," an official said. As per estimates, there are about 10,000 Indians working in Iraq of which 2,500 have already returned. About 7000 Indians are still working in non-conflict zone of Iraq and, according to the sources, about 100 Indians are still trapped in the conflict zone controlled by the Isis fighters. "We have information that brainwashed and radicalized elements who worked for Isis might return to India to carry out terror attacks in cities here. Our challenge is to prevent that and we are working on it," an intelligence officer said.
Keywords
Indians, Iraq, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, youngsters, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, youth, India, Middle East, migrant workers, Doha, Muslims
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