An IIT-Guwahati student has been detained after allegedly pledging allegiance to ISIS in Assam’s Hajo. The fourth-year Biotechnology student made his intentions known on social media and through emails before going missing from the campus. This incident follows the recent arrest of ISIS India head Haris Farooqi in Dhubri district, who was suspected of radicalizing individuals in Bangladesh.

Police issued a lookout alert for the student, a Delhi resident, after he publicly declared his support for ISIS on LinkedIn. He was located in Hajo, detained, and taken for questioning. Upon searching his hostel room, authorities found a black flag resembling the ISIS flag and an Islamic manuscript. Described as a loner with no close connections on campus, the student’s actions have raised concerns about potential radicalization.

Haris Farooqi, a key figure in ISIS activities since 2019, was apprehended by the Assam police along with his associate Anurag Singh alias Rehan. Singh, a convert to Islam from Panipat, is married to a Bangladeshi national. Farooqi’s arrest sheds light on the network of radicalization spanning across states like Jharkhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Farooqi’s capture underscores the ongoing threat of extremism and the need for heightened security measures.

These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by radicalization and the critical role of security agencies in combating such threats. Vigilance and cooperation are essential in preventing further instances of individuals being swayed towards extremist ideologies.