TERROR THREAT IN SOUTHERN INDIA
By Ashit Prasad
The unprecedented growth in religious fundamentalism has compounded the security challenges in Peninsular India.
A perceptible decline in terror-related incidents has taken place across the globe and more so in India over the last decade. The major reason attributed to this phenomenon is the dismantling of ISIS-a rabid, fundamentalist and extremist organisation that made a deadly combination of territory and terrorism as a great motivational factor to encourage mass migration from across the World. A wide range of radicalised youth moved over to Syria to join the fight against non-Islamic forces with the ultimate aim of establishing the hallowed, idealistic Caliphate. However, the elimination of the ISIS chief and the subsequent displacement of its capacity/network from Syria andIraq caused a major setback. Those who joined as warriors for the Jihadi cause returned disgusted, disillusioned and directionless.
The challenges in Peninsular India are unique as youth, for the first time, went towards the Caliphate of Baghdad, particularly from Kerala and the coastal belt of Western India, as against Northern India. The reasons, inter alia, are contacts with Gulf states, the influence of Wahabism, and the existence of home-grown radical outfits.
The Terror Scene in India
Terrorism in India peaked in the last decade of the previous century and the first decade of the present millennium. There was a clear geographical divide, with Northern India bearing the brunt of major incidents with widespread casualties compared to Peninsular India. Southern India had relatively fewer incidents beginning from the serial blast cases in Coimbatore (1998), Bengaluru Serial Blasts(2008), IED explosions at Chinnaswamy Stadium,Bengaluru(2010), BJP State Headquarters,Bengaluru(2013), Church Street,Bengaluru(2014), Mysore Court Complex(2016).The Car Blast in Coimbatore (October 22, 2022), the abortedcylinder blast in an Auto Rickshaw in Mangalore (November 19, 2022)and the recent terror-related incident reported in Rameshwaram Café House,Bengaluru (March 1, 2024)had fewer casualties, unlike the incidents in North India.The Investigation subsequently uncovered a wide network of conspirators inspired by the radical,extremist ideology.Even in North India,only two civilian fatalitiesoccurred in the year 2022-the ‘Lone Wolf’ attack in Amravati(Maharashtra) and Udaipur (Rajasthan)over an alleged blasphemous remark on a TV programme.
The security challenges in Peninsular India have been compounded by the unprecedented growth in fundamentalism, especially in the coastal areas, and a large diaspora settled in the Middle East over a long period.This has led to increased remittances often used for charity /educational purposes and establishing institutions imparting religious education. Consequently, the fundamentalist organisations started mobilising and indoctrinating youth to their fold, leading to far greater polarisation, sectarian killings and, in a few cases, migration to the conflict areas, including Syria and Iraq.
The NIA conducted search operations in several training centres (31) in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala, allegedly involved in the religious indoctrination of youth. The Popular Front of India (PFI), an agglomeration of three groups, namely National Democratic Front (Kerela), Karnataka Forum forDignity (Karnataka) and Manitha Neethi Pasarai (T.N.), was banned by the Government of India for Unlawful Activities detrimental to National Security. Although the Organization had footprints in several states (17), itwas predominantly a Kerala-based outfit with involvement in cases of Murder, Assault, etc.Following theban, PFI members (45) arrested belonged to Kerela (19), Tamil Nadu(11), Karnataka(9) and others from Rajasthan Andhra Pradesh.
There were reports of Muslim youth (3) from Kerela getting neutralised in Syria wherein a group comprising twenty-one persons from Karnataka(9), T.N.&Telengana(5each), Andhra-Pradesh(2) joined Daesh(ISIS). The Government stated in Parliament that the sympathisers/supporters of Daesh arrested(68)across the country, a majority were from the South(50). Daesh in South India had allies in Jamatul MujahideenBangla Desh, especially in T.N. and Telangana. The Base Movement, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda,comprised Al-Ummah(banned) activists who created havoc by resorting to several bomb blasts in court complexes in several Southern States.Multiple new Salafi outfits emerged, including Niche of Truth (Kerala),Peace Educational Foundation(Kerala),Jamiat-ul-Muflihaat(Hyderabad),and Discover Islam Education Trust(Bangalore).Kerala Police filed a case against 'The Peace Education Foundation', which runs a chain of schools, after it came to adverse notice that some persons missing from the state worked there.Following the spread of extremist ideology,the cadres of PFI, Touheed Jamaat(T.N) and Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen registered phenomenal growth.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the bomb blast in Coimbatore/ Mangalore, surprisingly, after a gap of six months, which they otherwise did immediately after the incident.It is a deliberate ploy to demonstrate their presence in South India, capitalise on the existing sympathisers, and enlist them as active membersfollowing the ban on PFI.The Easter Bombings(April 21, 2019) orchestrated by the National Touheed Jamaat(NTJ) in Sri Lanka had a close ideological affinity with Touheed Jamaat(T.N), a breakaway faction of Sri Lanka Touheed Jamaat.The founder of NTJ, Zeehan Hashim, came to notice (July 2018) as a preacher during frequent visits to South India and maintaining contacts with his operatives, which led to the sharing ofprecise operational intelligence before the blast.
The External Influence
The other aspect that sustains terrorism is recruitment, which earlier was done through religious institutions like Madrassas. However, the spread of the Internet and social media in various formats made outreach easier, faster, and more personalised in the virtual World. Its mastery over social media facilitated the production and spread of doctrinal messages easily accessible over the Internet, which encouraged remote radicalisation. In recent messages, ISIS leadership urged supporters not to come to areas of conflict but to fight their enemies at home.
Pan-Islamist terrorist outfits are engaged in radicalising Muslim youth in India through online Jihadi propaganda and inciting them to launch ‘Lone Wolf Attacks', which is evident from the arrest of their sympathisers. Peninsular India witnessed the presence of several such terrorist outfits that are not of Indian origin, including Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT),Al Badr,and Harkat-ul-Jihadi-e-Islami(HUJI). These groups collaborate/ coordinate with indigenous outfits such asIndian Mujahideen,Jam Iyyathul Ansarul Muslimeen(Kerela),Al–Ummah (Tamil Nadu).Muslim Fundamentalist Organizations including Tabliq Jamaat,Jamaat-e-Islami Hind,Popular Front of India (PFI),. Ahle Hadis and SIMIcadres also contributed to the growth of fundamentalist/extremist ideology.
The arrest of Mehdi Mehroor Biswas (Bengaluru,2014) on charges of operating a Pro-IS Twitter handle indicated the extent of the influence of IS on gullible youths in India and the challenges faced by Lone Wolf syndrome.The cities in the South have been used as a refuge by malevolent terror elements to spread the network and recruit indoctrinated youth for anti-national activities.
The Coastal belt is also vulnerable to the entry of terrorists, as was revealed during the Mumbai Terror Attack (9/11), leading to multiple casualties at several locations. Under the Coastal Security Scheme, a multi-layered security structure has been implemented, compromising Marine Police, Coast Guard and the Navy. Several Police stations, jetties, and patrolling boats, including volunteers, were incorporated to strengthen the security apparatus and the intelligence framework.
The Economy of Terror
Terrorism can be sustained only with a continuous flow of funds to promote ideology,pay Individual terrorists,make logistic provisions for families of terrorists,travel arrangements,training,documents,arms&ammunition,etc.Combating terror financing is one of the most effective ways to control and check terrorism.
The sources for terrorist financing are state-sponsored from across the border,arms supply, extortion, robbery, donations, fake currency, narcotics, etc. The terror financing channels arecash couriers, credit/debit cards and money transfer schemes including Cryptocurrency of late.
The other aspect that sustains terrorism is recruitment, which earlier was done through religious institutions like Madrassas.However,the spread of the Internet and social media in various formats made outreach easier,faster, and more personalised in the virtual World.Its mastery over social media facilitated the production and spread of doctrinal messages easily accessible over the Internet, which encouragedremote radicalisation.In recent messages,ISIS leadership exhorted supporters not to come to areas of conflict but to fight their enemies at home.
Assessments
Since the
main challenge is on the Ideological front
, it is essential to
develop a counter-narrative to wean away the misguided youth from adopting the path of extremism, violence and alienation. This requires framing a strategy suitable to local requirements rather than a Pan Indian. To develop the counter ideology and to promote moderation, engagement with religious, educational and Infocom partners is necessary as the threat of extremism has shifted to cyberspace.
Choking terror financing has to be a continuous ongoing effort that would include monitoring transactions carried out in virtual currencies, breaking the backbone of illicit
drugs and arms trafficking, besides ensuring that hawala transactions are
stringently stopped.
A
s the recent Moscow Crocus City Hall showed, ISIS and other terror groups of their ilk may be down but not entirely out. Given an opportunity, they retain the ability to plan, recruit and launch spectacular and bloody attacks even in a high security city like Moscow in a country which is in war and would therefore, be in a high state of alert.
India, cannot afford to lower its guard.
