Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 22: Indian intelligence agencies have raised alarms over renewed attempts to radicalise citizens, both domestically and overseas, with particular focus on Indian students pursuing higher education abroad. The agencies have warned that Pakistan’s ISI is actively working to create “white-collared” extremist modules similar to the Faridabad cell, which operated undetected for years before being busted.
Officials noted that the threat is not confined to India. ISI operatives are targeting Indian students studying medicine and engineering in countries such as the US, UK, Germany, and Australia. These students, once radicalised, could pose a significant security risk upon returning to India. The agencies are also scrutinising the backgrounds of approximately 12,000 Indian medical students in Bangladesh, particularly those present during the 2024 protests that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. The Islamic Chatra Shibir (ICS), Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing, reportedly conducted a major drive to radicalise and recruit these students.
Intelligence sources said the ISI is coordinating with hardline clerics in multiple countries to indoctrinate Indian students and prepare them for extremist operations once they return home. Unlike the Faridabad module, which communicated via encrypted chat apps and covert university meetings, the new strategy focuses on students abroad to avoid heightened domestic scrutiny.
White-collared extremists are particularly dangerous, officials warned, as their professional status provides cover and allows them to operate discreetly online. The ISI’s goal is to replicate the Faridabad-style modules overseas, ensuring students are ready to strike once back in India.
Among all locations, Bangladesh remains under maximum scrutiny due to the well-established ISI ecosystem, in collaboration with Jamaat-e-Islami, targeting Indian students in medical colleges. Intelligence agencies are monitoring these developments closely, emphasising that both domestic and international vigilance is crucial to counter these radicalisation efforts.