BREAKING: A big online conspiracy from Pakistan and Dubai to destabilize India was caught. Many fundamentalist handles blocked in 48 hours, attempt to trap youth failed. Terrorist network linked to Delhi blast investigation exposed.
New Delhi. The country’s security agencies have once again proved that they are keeping a close eye on every attempt to destabilize India. Within the last 48 hours, several social media handles and mobile numbers operating from Pakistan, PoK and Dubai were blocked. These handles were trying to push the youth of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Kishtwar of Jammu and Kashmir towards radicalism. This disclosure is more important because the module of white-collar terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed had come to light in the investigation of Delhi blasts. After the capture of this module, security agencies were monitoring unusual activities on social media. Result: Another big conspiracy was foiled before it could be detected.
Who were these handles and how were the youth being targeted?
According to officials, these social media accounts were especially targeting those youth who were inclined towards religious fundamentalism. At first religious content was sent to them, then gradually misleading and inflammatory material started being sent. This is the same old formula which terrorist organizations use to prepare their new recruits. But this time this formula did not succeed. The agencies caught the location, digital footprint and messaging pattern in time and blocked all the handles.
Why did this effort to spread fundamentalism suddenly increase?
The Delhi blast case had increased the concerns of security agencies. It was revealed that Jaish-e-Mohammed had built a high-tech recruitment network with the help of white-collared people like doctors and Dubai-returned professionals. This was the reason that after being caught, the terrorist masters intensified their activity on social media. A few days ago, two such social media handles were caught which were being run by two minors. Both of them were getting guidance from Ahmed Salar alias Saqib, a propaganda expert of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Why do terrorists pay special attention to the recruitment of women?
Another shocking aspect has emerged in the investigation – Jaish-e-Mohammed is actively recruiting for its women’s wing Jamaat-ul-Mominat. The arrest of Lucknow’s Shaheen Saeed in the Delhi blast case is an indication that women are also now being made a part of the radical network. Leading the women’s brigade – Sadia Azhar (sister of Jaish chief Masood Azhar) along with Samaira, both of them are running online training and brainwashing sessions.
Will India be able to deal with this new digital jihad strategy?
The speed and accuracy with which security agencies have detected this conspiracy shows that the country is prepared to deal with the threat of online radicalism. But the question is – have terrorist modules now made social media their new battlefield? Are more stringent cyber measures necessary to protect vulnerable youth? At present, the activism of the agencies has stopped a big digital jihad plan in time.