Busting of terror module in Hyderabad has brought to the front the extent of radicalisation and spread of domestically created terror machines. The exposure has brought one fact to the front that even the southern states are not behind Jammu and Kashmir for the propagation of ideological differences. These modules were planning multiple attacks on soft targets during the holy month of Ramzan. The exposure has made it clear that terror has no religion and it operates beyond its realm. What should be of grave concern is the profile of the detainees: aged between 20 and 41 years and including several engineers. This has all the tell-tale signs of a home-grown and self-radicalised IS-inspired module. This is the second big breakthrough after NIA had arrested 13 IS sympathisers ahead of Republic Day, with simultaneous raids at 12 locations in six cities. Earlier this year in January, 14 people who were suspected sympathisers of the ISIS were held from across the country by the NIA, out of which, two suspects were arrested in Hyderabad. The common thread in most of these arrests has been the fugitive Indian Mujahideen operative Muhammad Shafi Armar, considered the chief mentor and recruiter for IS in India. Though security agencies have provided counselling to de-radicalise many such suspects in the past, the internet remains the biggest source of indoctrination for Muslim youth suffering from a feeling of persecution. Online mechanism like exclusive chat rooms play a vital role in spreading IS ideology and ingraining radicalism. There is a need to do a delicate balancing act otherwise security actions can be misused by terrorists for propaganda.
