A high alert has been issued in several states of the country following inputs about the terrorist organisation, Hizbul-ut-Tahrir (HuT), enhancing capabilities in Bharat. The rise of the HuT was discussed at the recent two-day counter-terrorism conference held and attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
While several probes against the HuT were conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Intelligence Bureau identified several states where the outfit had become stronger. The states identified by the agencies are
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. The focus of the HuT has been largely in the southern states, where some governments have been accused of being soft on radical elements.
An official tells the Organiser that the HuT has used various tactics to enhance recruitment. Currently, the focus is to lure the Muslim youth by speaking about the war in Palestine. The youth are being brainwashed into believing that Hamas is fighting for the cause of the Muslims, but a majority of the world, including Bharat, is backing Israel in the war. Adding further to their propaganda is the re-election of Donald Trump, who has made no qualms in stating that he is pro-Israel.
This is, however, not the first time that the HuT has spoken about the Palestine issue. The group, which has a large presence in Western countries, including the United Kingdom, has taken out protests on the streets in support of Palestine.
In Bharat, the HuT has been banned under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The ban was put in place after it was learnt that the group was making strong inroads in the country.
In 2015, the HuT was banned by the United States as there were inputs which suggested that the terror outfit was becoming more dangerous than the Islamic State.
Building Dawah squads
The Intelligence Bureau has also reported that the HuT is trying to set up Dawah or hit squads in the four states mentioned above. This is very much along the lines of what the Popular Front of India had done in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The hit squads, according to officials, are the most dangerous rung in a terror group. They target individuals in the direction of a Dawah Court. A hit list is prepared, and instructions are given. In the case of the PFI, it was found that the hit squad comprised gym trainers and bodybuilders, among others.
The fact that the HuT is trying to set up hit squads is a clear indication that they want to undertake lone-wolf attacks in India. Counter-terrorism experts say that the HuT is proving to be more dangerous. While the Islamic State has been running pillar to post to take over the space left by the PFI, the HuT is the terror group that poses a large risk. This is mainly because it has been in the country for a longer time and identifies better with the Muslim youth here.
The HuT has also opened several accounts on social media through which it distributes its propaganda. It is also using secure applications to run its agenda, officials of the NIA learnt during an investigation.
Further details of the HuT were revealed during the interrogation of Faizul Rehman, the head or emir of the HuT in Tamil Nadu. He has revealed a large chunk of details. He, along with one Rehman and six others, were inciting the Muslim youth to undertake acts of terror. They had also tried reaching out to the Pakistan army to seek help in liberating Jammu and Kashmir.
The Bangladesh coup and India agenda
Before the coup took place in Bangladesh, the HuT attempted something similar in the country in 2015. It had roped in 16 army officers of the Bangladesh army for this cause. It prepared a group to overthrow the then Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.
Now, with Bangladesh in crisis and the rabid Islamists running amok, the HuT has found a good place and time to further its activities. This has led to the HuT also enhancing capabilities in India.
This is a worry for Bharat as the free hand the HuT has been given in Bangladesh only adds to its enthusiasm to act against Bharat. Further, it has also been revealed that some members of this outfit share close ties with politicians in some southern states.
The agencies also state that this group has a considerable number of followers in the form of students. The group’s proxies have arranged for seminars in several parts of the county, including New Delhi, where the topic has always been about Israel and its battle with Palestine.
It may be recalled that this was the same group that had come out with 1,000 members to protest against the Batla House encounter in 2010. This suggests that the group has been around for a long time and has been actively working in the country.
In Bharat, another talking point adopted by the HuT relates to political discourse. It believes that the Indian Muslims must come together and establish the Sharia law in the country.
