NIA reveals how Islamic State recruits tried to infiltrate Kanhaiya stir and foment violence

The report said that ISIS designs were exposed during the interrogation of its three recruits, Ashiq Ahmad, Mohammad Abdul Ahad and Mohammad Afzal.

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New Delhi: The interrogation of three Islamic State (IS) recruits has revealed how they were asked to infiltrate pro-Kanhaiya Kumar protests, which had spread to several Indian cities after his arrest, to foment tension and violence.

According to a report in Times of India (TOI), ISIS' Ahmad Ali had approached Ashiq Ahmad from Hooghly in West Bengal to infiltrate the movement and burn vehicles and oil tankers using petrol.

The report said that ISIS designs were exposed during the interrogation of three recruits, Ashiq Ahmad, Mohammad Abdul Ahad and Mohammad Afzal.

Citing the NIA, it further said that the idea was to “agitate the students so that it creates disorder in the country”. Their statements, which were recorded by NIA, also prove the creation of ISIS cells Karnataka, West Bengal and Punjab.

One of the recruits reportedly said that he was contacted by his boss Ahmed Ali on February 19, when Kanhaiya was in Tihar jail and students of several universities were holding demonstrations demanding his release.

"He told me that agencies are keeping a tab on us. He told me that a student movement is happening in the country and that we should enter and put vehicles, oil tankers on fire," the report quoted Ashiq, one of the recruits, as saying.

All ISIS recruits were nabbed by NIA.

Ashiq said that he was asked to "learn spying, swimming and drawing maps".

The terror group's first target would be "Shias", while they also planned to "free former IM chief Yasin Bhatkal from jail", the report said citing Ashiq.