New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) detailed the planning and execution of the Red Fort car blast plot in November last year in a 7,500-page charge sheet filed before a special court, exposing a self-radicalisation module operating out of Faridabad.
One key finding of the NIA was a book used by the members of the Faridabad module, which eventually led to their radicalisation. The book titled ‘Lone Mujahid Pocket Book/How to Become an Assassin’ was found among the members of the module.
This book is written by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
An Intelligence Bureau official said that this signals a marked shift in how the newer modules in India are operating.
“Outfits such as the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have shifted a large part of their operations to the Arab nations. Most of the handlers that deal with the Indian recruits are from the Arab or African nations,” the official said.
Further, these outfits, which have largely been beaten down in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria, have shifted their bases to the Arab and African nations.
An official said that AQAP remains the most dangerous outfit among the various Al Qaeda units.
Al-Qaeda has separate groups operating in various regions such as Afghanistan, the Arabian and the African nations.
The official said that the cropping up of a manual prepared by the AQAP is a worrying trend.
Another official said that the AQAP does not operate on the ground in India.
Al-Qaeda had formed Al-Qaeda in the Sub-Continent (AQIS) for operations in India. The AQAP, however, maintains tactical, ideological, and organisational connections to India. It seeks to connect with the Indian diaspora who live in the Arabian nations.
“Currently, it has been looking for youth within India and using them to carry out terror acts,” the official said.
The officials point out that a lot of propaganda material is being pushed into India by AQAP as compared to AQIS. “This could be to do with the fact that there is more scrutiny when it comes to AQIS compared with AQAP,” the official said.
The AQAP also has an English digital magazine called Inspire. Through this magazine, it seeks to radicalise the youth of India. This magazine and the Lone Mujahid Pocket Book/How to Become an Assassin have become major weapons for AQAP to track Indian youth for radicalisation.
Counter-terrorism experts say the issue extends beyond radicalisation. These publications also provide detailed instructions on bomb-making techniques.
The Faridabad module was planning an attack on a very large scale. The NIA probe revealed the sophistication with which the module was operating, and had the plot been successfully executed, the resulting casualties and destruction could have been on an unprecedented and catastrophic scale.
AQAP publications offer in-depth information on how to prepare Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), which is also called the Mother of Satan.
The NIA said that these publications offered operational information related to explosives, weapons, arson, vehicles, and covert activities.
In fact, there are several chapters related only to TATP and remote-controlled mechanisms for detonating IEDs.
Officials say that AQAP is an outfit that the agencies would keep a close tab on.
The Faridabad module investigation has clearly revealed the impact this outfit has on India’s youth. AQAP has previously issued statements that directly target India.
Voice and video messages too have been put out accusing India of waging a war against Muslims. It has repeatedly called on the Indian youth to join Al-Qaeda.
AQAP is looking to leverage localised communal issues within India to fuel its recruitment narratives. The primary aim is to destabilise India and instigate radicalisation among the Indian youth, an official said.
(IANS)
