ISIS luring Hyderabad women to lay honey traps

ISIS luring Hyderabad women to lay honey traps
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Highlights

ISIS- The name strikes fear in the hearts of people across the world. Though we are not directly affected, the aftermath and subsequent incidents have put us as a nation on high alert.

Sources from the security agencies state that the ISIS is targeting young and educated youth. They also state that it is keen on building a formidable force and reportedly laying down rules and guidelines for women, who have been recruited. According to them, ISIS doesn’t want women in combat.

  • Women are being recruited by the extremists to aid their ‘brothers’
  • Social media being used extensively as a tool for recruitment
  • Police are monitoring social media and counselling youth who are being misled

Fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria marching in Raqqa, Syria

ISIS- The name strikes fear in the hearts of people across the world. Though we are not directly affected, the aftermath and subsequent incidents have put us as a nation on high alert. Be it the capture of Hyderabadi women who were leaving to Iraq from West Bengal or the city police foiling a former techie’s attempt to fly to Iraq to join the caliphate forces in December and the arrest of a techie in Mumbai on Monday who planned to explode ‘thermite’ bombs near the US embassy, it is a harsh reality that the movement is making slow in-roads into the country.

While India is not part of the US-led coalition forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), security agencies are monitoring and keeping a track of those who are being lured towards the group via social media. Sources from the security agencies state that the ISIS is targeting young and educated youth. They also state that it is keen on building a formidable force and reportedly laying down rules and guidelines for women, who have been recruited. According to them, ISIS doesn’t want women in combat.

These details came to light after security agencies questioned Hyderabadi women, who were caught in West Bengal. According to sources, the women said that they felt the need to protect their brothers. “We were told that the battle would be a long one and hence we were required to assist them. We were offered a range of roles that needed to be played. We were told we could cook for the soldiers. If we were interested, we could also be part of an operation where we lay honey traps," a source quoted a woman’s statement.

The women were offered a training course in gathering intelligence once they reached Iraq. It was made clear to them that they would not be roped in for direct combat. The women confessed to the investigating officers that their utmost concern was the safety of their friends making it clear that the ISIS was extensively using social media to recruit.

Post the foiled attempt of a techie to flee to Iraq, the city police has been keeping a close eye on all people who are visiting websites propagating ISIS and are even counselling young men whose online activities seem suspicious.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Mahendar Reddy said, "There is a lot of activity on social media. With the help of parents, we counsel such young people who are being misled. We appeal to the parents to be watchful of children’s activity online.”

Security agencies have already warned plans of terror groups trying to recruit Indian youth online. Educated young people getting influenced by the Islamic State’s propaganda on social media is a major cause of worry for the police.

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