IB chief for intelligence sharing to tackle terror

Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, November 29

Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Syed Asif Ibrahim today said effective intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries would go a long way in helping the country to tackle threats from global terror groups such as the Al-Qaida and ISIS.

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the two-day 49th annual conclave of DGPs/IGPs of state police forces and central police organisations, the IB chief raised concern over a section of Indian youths joining global jihadi groups and moving to conflict zones.

"The rapid territorial gain and the influence of caliphate not only glamorises ISIS’ image but also enhances its capability," he said.

Ibrahim said a splinter group of the Indian Mujahideen operating in the Afghanistan-Pak region has announced its support to the ISIS. The Al-Qaida has announced the formation of its Indian sub-continent wing, specifically targeting India.

"We have deliberated on this serious issue at this conclave yesterday and felt that the threat is likely to accentuate further in future," he said. “We need to formulate collective response against radicalism involving community leaders to reject jihadi propaganda. Already prominent members of the social organisations, clerics and seminaries have condemned jihadi activities as un-Islamic,” the IB director said.

He pointed out that only a handful of youth from the country could be so far lured by jihadi groups compared to European countries from where large numbers of youth have joined global jihadi groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda that were of grave concern for the country.

Ibrahim said in the hinterland of the country, effort of Pakistan and Pakistan-sponsored groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and SIMI to organise violent attacks on India has been ongoing on.

The IB chief informed that the DGPs conclave felt the need for further fine tuning of anti-Maoists strategy though the Maoist movement was on the wane. “There is need to adequately empower the district police tackle Maoists whole special training should be imparted to Central forces to deal with Left wing extremists,” he said.