IIT-Guwahati student detained for pledging support to ISIS

Guwahati: A fourth-year student of IIT Guwahati was detained in Assam's Kamrup district on Saturday evening after he allegedly pledged support to ISIS on social media and was on his way to join the global terror outfits.

The student, identified as Tauseef Ali Farooqui, hails from Nizamuddin in Delhi, police said.

"Reference @IITGuwahati student pledging allegiance to ISIS - the said student has been detained while travelling and further lawful follow up would take place," Director General of Police GP Singh posted on X on Saturday.

Police said the youth, apart from a social media post pledging his support to the ISSI, also sent an email announcing his decision to join the terror group. As a search was launched after his email, the student was caught by some locals near Hajo, about 20km away from the IIT, and was handed over to police.

A black flag resembling the ISIS flag and some books were seized from his hostel room. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the youth was found to be highly indoctrinated.

Detention of the youth came four days after ISIS 'India head' Haris Farooqi alias Harish Ajmal Farukhi and his associate Anurag Singh alias Rehan were arrested in western Assam's Dhubri district after they had crossed over from Bangladesh. Police said Farooqi and Rehan were planning to carry out IED explosions across India.