Guwahati: In a shocking development, police arrested an IIT Guwahati student for purportedly pledging support to ISIS. He was detained at Hajo on March 23 evening when he was on his way to join the terror outfit, police have confirmed.
The arrest comes four days after the ISIS India head Haris Farooqi, also known as Harish Ajmal Farukhi, alongside his associate Anurag Singh, alias Rehan, were arrested in Dhubri district after crossing over from Bangladesh.
Director-General of Police G.P. Singh confirmed the detention of the IIT Guwahati student and stated that further legal proceedings would be carried out against the arrested student.
“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” / X (twitter.com)
According to Additional Superintendent of Police (STF) Kalyan Kumar Pathak, the investigation was triggered by an email from the student, affirming his intent to join ISIS. Subsequent verification revealed the student’s absence from IIT-Guwahati since noon, accompanied by a switched-off mobile phone.
The detained student, identified as a fourth-year student from Okhla, Delhi, was located in the Hajo area, about 30 km from Guwahati, with the assistance of locals.
Pathak confirmed the detainee’s transfer to the STF office after initial questioning, emphasising the ongoing efforts to ascertain the motive behind the email.
In a concerning development, a black flag resembling that of ISIS was discovered in the student’s hostel room. This finding has prompted further scrutiny by specialised agencies tasked with dealing with proscribed outfits.
“We are examining the seized items; it’s premature to draw conclusions. We’re delving into the intention behind the email. While the student has provided some details, we are unable to disclose further information at this juncture,” news agency PTI quoted Pathak as saying.
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