02-25-2008, 04:55 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Going south </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
Jihadis look for new destinations
Terrorism appears to have started making inroads into southern cities, thus expanding the theatre of violence. This has been further exposed with the arrest of a Bangalore-based software engineer accused of being part of a terror network. With the arrest of Mohammed Yahya Kammukutty, 31, on Thursday by a team of Karnataka detectives as part of an investigation, dangerous terror links in the region are being traced between diverse organisations that have been on the police radar for several months. Six others had been arrested earlier on similar charges. These youth are believed to be activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India and are suspected to have been an important link of SIMI with terror modules. Kammukutty, <b>in particular, is said to have been a close associate of key wanted Kerala SIMI president CAM Basheer, who has received terrorist training in Pakistan.</b> It is now increasingly clear that SIMI, which has a strong presence in Karnataka, has been providing support to foreign trained terrorists. It is quite probable that these arrests are just the tip of the iceberg. It has been known for some time that terrorist groups have been attracted to south India as they have attempted to spread their subversive activities beyond the regions that have been their historic focus. Terrorist outfits such as Lashkar-e-Tayyeba and Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami are known to be active in various locations spread across south India. They receive support from SIMI which has a strong presence in the various south Indian States as also several front organisations.
What makes these terror groups more dangerous is their links with both the ISI and the LTTE; they also have other international connections. The southern States are particularly attractive as cities such as Bangalore showcase India's economic success -- the image they would like to dent through terror. Such plans have already been operationalised with attacks on key targets in south India in recent months. Last year there was a powerful blast at Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, but it was perhaps the earlier attack on Bangalore's Indian Institute of Science that clearly indicated the terrorists' intent. What is disturbing is that terror groups apparently have no difficulty in finding recruits to their nefarious cause. Of particular concern is the participation of educated youth and professionals, drawn to this ideology of hate. Among those arrested this time are not just young engineers but also medical professionals. Many such cells of educated youth may be proliferating across India, more so in Karnataka that has so far been largely insulated from jihadi violence. Hubli is emerging as the new hub of terror. Hopefully, New Delhi isn't sleeping. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Pioneer Edit Desk
Jihadis look for new destinations
Terrorism appears to have started making inroads into southern cities, thus expanding the theatre of violence. This has been further exposed with the arrest of a Bangalore-based software engineer accused of being part of a terror network. With the arrest of Mohammed Yahya Kammukutty, 31, on Thursday by a team of Karnataka detectives as part of an investigation, dangerous terror links in the region are being traced between diverse organisations that have been on the police radar for several months. Six others had been arrested earlier on similar charges. These youth are believed to be activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India and are suspected to have been an important link of SIMI with terror modules. Kammukutty, <b>in particular, is said to have been a close associate of key wanted Kerala SIMI president CAM Basheer, who has received terrorist training in Pakistan.</b> It is now increasingly clear that SIMI, which has a strong presence in Karnataka, has been providing support to foreign trained terrorists. It is quite probable that these arrests are just the tip of the iceberg. It has been known for some time that terrorist groups have been attracted to south India as they have attempted to spread their subversive activities beyond the regions that have been their historic focus. Terrorist outfits such as Lashkar-e-Tayyeba and Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami are known to be active in various locations spread across south India. They receive support from SIMI which has a strong presence in the various south Indian States as also several front organisations.
What makes these terror groups more dangerous is their links with both the ISI and the LTTE; they also have other international connections. The southern States are particularly attractive as cities such as Bangalore showcase India's economic success -- the image they would like to dent through terror. Such plans have already been operationalised with attacks on key targets in south India in recent months. Last year there was a powerful blast at Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, but it was perhaps the earlier attack on Bangalore's Indian Institute of Science that clearly indicated the terrorists' intent. What is disturbing is that terror groups apparently have no difficulty in finding recruits to their nefarious cause. Of particular concern is the participation of educated youth and professionals, drawn to this ideology of hate. Among those arrested this time are not just young engineers but also medical professionals. Many such cells of educated youth may be proliferating across India, more so in Karnataka that has so far been largely insulated from jihadi violence. Hubli is emerging as the new hub of terror. Hopefully, New Delhi isn't sleeping. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->