South Indian Muslims more attracted to ISIS, says Kiren Rijiju

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiji has initiated a fresh controversy by saying that South Indian Muslims were attracted more to the ISIS ideology than their north Indian counterparts.

While maintaining that despite threats from the Islamic State (ISIS), India is prepared to tackle the terrorists very efficiently, Rijiju agreed that "Muslim youths from five south Indian states - Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh - were getting attracted towards the Islamic State".

Referring to the reports, Rijiu said " Indian Muslims, most them from South India, travelled to Syria to join terror group ISIS."

As per the intelligence agencies , a total of 23 Indians have so far joined the ISIS ,three of the terrorists of ISIS in Syria were natives of Karnataka, rest were from Maharashtra, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. Six have been killed in different terror related incidents.

"It's very difficult for me make a comment on that. South India has been having traditionally more links with Middle East so there is more regular exchange of travelling there. But I cannot say that it's the reason. But reports have come more from South India and that's a reality," said Rijiju.

When asked about the ongoing incidents of the hoisting of the ISIS flag in Jammu & Kashmir, the Minister said, "These were isolated cases and not spread across the state or the country."

Nearly 150 youths in the country ,mostly from South India, are under the surveillance of security agencies for their alleged leanings towards dreaded terrorist group ISIS, responsible for the recent terror attacks in Paris. According to a report prepared by the intelligence agencies, ISIS militants may carry out lone wolf strikes in Delhi and Rajasthan, or could attack in groups of two or three fighters.