IIT student on way to join ISIS detained in India's Assam: Police

A fourth-year student from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati was detained in Assam's Hajo on Saturday (Mar 23) evening. The reason, he had allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) and was travelling to join the terrorist outfit. In a post on X, Assam's Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh said, "Reference IIT Guwahati student pledging allegiance to ISIS - the said student has been detained while travelling and further lawful follow up would take place."

The student was nabbed four days after ISIS India head Haris Farooqi alias Harish Ajmal Farukhi and his associate Anurag Singh alias Rehan were arrested in Dhubri district after they had crossed over from Bangladesh.

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Speaking to the news agency PTI, Additional Superintendent of Police (Special Task Force also known as STF) Kalyan Kumar Pathak said, "After receiving an email, we got about to verify the authenticity of the contents and started an investigation."

ASP Pathak said that IIT-Guwahati's authorities were immediately contacted, who informed them that the said student had been missing since noon and his mobile phone was also switched off.

A search was started to locate him and he was nabbed from the Hajo area, around 30 km from Guwahati, in the evening with the help of locals, he added. The student hailed from Delhi's Oklha

Pathak also told PTI that the student was brought to the STF office after initial questioning. The ASP further said a black flag, "purportedly similar to that of ISIS", was found in his hostel room and was being sent for verification to specialised agencies which deal with proscribed outfits.

"We are going through the items seized, it is early to say much. We are investigating the intention of sending the email. The student has given some details, but we cannot disclose anything further now," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)