ISIS sidelined India head killed in Syria

Bengaluru: Mohammed Shafi Armar, alias Yousuf al Hindi, the 27-year-old alleged head-hunter of the banned global terrorist organisation Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq & Syria) from Bhatkal, who has reportedly been killed in a drone strike in Syria, had allegedly become a hot potato for Daesh, who according to sources had isolated him following the cross-country arrests of Shafi’s recruits by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“He was tasked with the online recruitment of young Indian Muslims and had floated a new terror outfit - Junud al Khalifa-e-Hind (Soldiers of the Indian Caliphate) to attract fresh blood to Daesh. The NIA has arrested 23 alleged Daesh supporters from all over India, who were recruited online by Shafi. They have given crucial information about him and his recruitment propaganda to the NIA. Following the arrests there has been a lull in Daesh recruitment in the country and Shafi went underground,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.

Daesh doubts Indian Muslims’ commitment to their violent and extremist cause and had asked Shafi to set a criteria for his recruits and challenge them to do something “spectacular” in India to be considered for recruitment in Daesh.