IIT-Guwahati Student Held After LinkedIn Post on ‘Allegiance to ISIS’: Details Unfold

An IIT-Guwahati student has been apprehended in Hajo, Assam, following claims of pledging allegiance to ISIS. The incident emerged after the fourth-year Biotechnology student, hailing from Delhi, purportedly expressed intentions to join the terrorist organization via social media and emails. His disappearance from the IIT-Guwahati campus prompted authorities to issue a lookout alert.

The detainment comes amidst heightened concerns surrounding terrorism, notably following the recent arrest of Haris Farooqi, suspected head of ISIS in India, in Dhubri district. Farooqi’s alleged involvement in radicalization activities and the establishment of ISIS modules across several states has raised alarms nationwide.

Reference @IITGuwahati student pledging allegiance to ISIS – the said student has been detained while travelling and further lawful follow up would take place. @assampolice @CMOfficeAssam @HMOIndia

— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) March 23, 2024

The detained student’s open letter on LinkedIn detailing his decision raised red flags, leading to his apprehension in Hajo, approximately 30 km from Guwahati. 

Haris Farooqi, who has been active since 2019, was arrested along with his associates on Wednesday by the Assam police. He has been instrumental in setting up modules in Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Farooqui, who is from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA)

Meanwhile, Farooqi’s arrest sheds light on ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), to counter terrorism and extremism in the country.