An IIT-Guwahati student, who had allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and was on his way to join the terror group, was detained, according to police. The student, a fourth-year student from Okhla in Delhi, was nabbed in Hajo area near Guwahati on Saturday evening.
“Reference @IITGuwahati student pledging allegiance to ISIS – the said student has been detained while travelling and further lawful follow up would take place,” Director General of Police GP Singh said in a post on X.
His apprehension comes four days after ISIS India head Haris Farooqi alias Harish Ajmal Farukhi and his associate Anurag Singh alias Rehan were arrested in Dhubri district after they had crossed over from Bangladesh.
Speaking on the matter, Additional Superintendent of Police (STF) Kalyan Kumar Pathak said that after police received information via an email, they started a probe to verify the authenticity of the contents.
The e-mail was sent by the student, where he claimed that he was on his way to join ISIS. Police then contacted IIT-Guwahati authorities who informed them that the said student had been “missing” since noon and his mobile phone was also switched off.
A search was started to locate him and he was nabbed from Hajo area, around 30 km from Guwahati, on Saturday evening with the help of locals, the ASP said.
“After initial questioning, he has been brought to the STF office. We are verifying the motive of the email,” Pathak said.
He said a black flag, “purportedly similar to that of ISIS”, was found in his hostel room and was being sent for verification to specialised agencies which deal with proscribed outfits.
“We are going through the items seized, it is early to say much. We are investigating the intention of sending the email. The student has given some details, but we cannot disclose anything further now,” Pathak added.
(With PTI inputs)