In a significant development, Tauseef Ali Farooqui, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-Guwahati), has been taken into police custody. This action came after Farooqui made a public declaration on social media, stating his allegiance to ISIS, a well-known terrorist organization. The statement he posted on LinkedIn led to his arrest, and subsequently, he was sent to police custody for a period of 10 days.

Koo App The Assam Police has detained Tauseef Ali Farooqui, a final-year biotechnology student at IIT-Guwahati, for allegedly pledging allegiance to the ISIS. Tracked down by the Special Task Force (STF) to Hajo in Assam, Farooqui expressed his desire to join the ISIS through social media posts. Authorities recovered items, including a suspected ISIS flag, from Farooqui's hostel. He is currently being interrogated, with forensic examination underway. . Join | t.me/SatyaagrahIndia View attached media content - Satyaagrah (@SatyaagrahIndia) 28 Mar 2024

Farooqui is currently enrolled in a Biotechnology program at IIT Guwahati. The seriousness of the situation was underscored by a statement from a senior police officer, who chose to remain anonymous. The officer informed that "Accused Touseef Ali Farooqui - a BTech student of IITG has been arrested u/s 120(B)/121(S)/123 IPC R/w Sec 10/13 UA(P) Act. He was produced before the Court which granted 10 days police custody." 

The arrest occurred on March 23rd when Assam Police detained Farooqui following his online declaration of support for ISIS through what he described as an open letter on LinkedIn. Being a final-year student specializing in biotechnology at IIT-Guwahati, the incident has drawn considerable attention to the potential misuse of social media platforms by individuals to spread extremist ideologies or pledge allegiance to terrorist organizations.

In a startling revelation through an open letter shared on LinkedIn, Tauseef Ali Farooqui announced his decision to sever ties with what he termed the “Indian-Construct,” which he explained includes the Indian Constitution, its institutions, and beyond. Farooqui's letter explicitly stated, "My first step after my repentance is to make Hijrat (emigration) toward Muslimeen (Muslims) to a region known as Islamic State-Khorasan Province to pledge my allegiance to the Muslim-Leadership (Islamic State)...It is a fight between Muslimeen (those who have surrendered to Allah) and Kafireen (infidels)..." Moreover, Farooqui didn't limit his communication to LinkedIn; he also mailed this letter to some individuals.

The alarm was raised when it became apparent that Farooqui was missing from the IIT Guwahati campus. Attempts to contact him were futile as his phone was turned off. In response, the police launched a search operation, releasing a lookout notice and checking areas such as the airport to locate him.

However, the search concluded when Farooqui was found in Hajo, a town approximately 25 kilometers north of Guwahati, where IIT is situated. Originating from Okhla, New Delhi, Farooqui's presence in Hajo raised questions, leading to a search of his hostel room. The search unearthed several concerning items, including a black flag associated with ISIS. When confronted by reporters about the flag, Farooqui defended it as a religious symbol.

In a detailed interaction with the press, Kalyan Kumar Pathak, the additional superintendent of police for the Special Task Force (STF), disclosed significant developments regarding the detention of Tauseef Ali Farooqui, a student at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-Guwahati). "The Assam Special Task Force has detained IIT-G student Tauseef Ali Farooqui who claimed to have joined the ISIS. The particular student had gone missing since this morning. He had sent emails and posts on social media about his wish to join ISIS. We traced him to Hajo of Kamrup district in Assam," Pathak explained.

Pathak further elaborated on Farooqui's social behavior and the findings from his hostel room, "Tauseef didn’t have many friends on campus and mostly stayed indoors in his hostel. There are certain things we have recovered from his room. Among them is a black flag, suspected to be an ISIS flag, and a few manuscripts of his religion. He is being interrogated. We have sent the recovered items for forensic examination."

Additionally, Assam's Director General of Police, GP Singh, commented on the case, stating, "Reference IIT Guwahati student pleading allegiance to ISIS – the said student has been detained while travelling and further lawful follow up would take place."

Given the gravity of the case involving allegiance to ISIS, a recognized terrorist organization, Assam Police will be working in collaboration with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conduct a thorough investigation. This coordinated effort underscores the seriousness with which authorities are addressing the situation, emphasizing the commitment to national security and the prevention of any form of terrorism.

The Open Letter

On March 23, Tauseef Ali Farooqui made headlines with an open letter he posted online, explicitly stating his intention to join the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP) and relocate from Guwahati to the territory under ISKP control. Accompanying his declaration was an image of an ISIS flag, beneath which was written "Aim1: Hijrat towards Muslims (ISKP)". Farooqui's letter began with a profound disavowal of the Indian state, including its Constitution, thereby renouncing his allegiance to the country's legal and institutional framework.

He articulated a clear separation from what he referred to as "kofirun (infidels)" or "kafirs", addressing those who doubted his religious convictions. Farooqui expressed a preference for subservience to Allah alone, rejecting any form of allegiance to entities or individuals not devoted to his interpretation of Islamic faith.

In his letter, Farooqui underscored his primary goal: to facilitate the migration of Muslims to a region he identifies as the Islamic State – Khorasan Province, to there pledge his allegiance to what he calls the Muslim leadership of ISIS. He openly invited confrontation from those who opposed him, stating his readiness to embark on his journey publicly and on foot, reminiscent of challenges he perceived to have faced in the past.

He indicated that his journey would commence from Panbazar in Guwahati, and he promised to include a map detailing the route he planned to undertake for this purpose. This explicit declaration and the subsequent dissemination of his plans and ideological stance have stirred significant concern and debate, spotlighting the potent mix of extremism and social media in today's world.

In his letter, Tauseef Ali Farooqui emphasized his view that those who do not believe in Allah are labeled as "Kafirs" and asserted that Muslims are only in conflict with such individuals. He articulated, "If it was a fight between Arabs and non-Arabs, Muslims (Islamic State) would not fight Saudi Arabians," suggesting his belief in a religious rather than ethnic or nationalistic basis for conflict. Farooqui also made the sweeping assertion that all land on Earth rightfully belongs to Allah, extending the ideological foundation of his arguments.

He concluded his message with a direct address to "Kuffars" (infidels), urging them to repent and adopt Islamic practices such as prayer (Salat) and almsgiving (Zakat), under the direction of what he recognized as the legitimate Islamic authority, "the Khalifah, Abu Hafs Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi." Farooqui warned of dire consequences for those who choose to ignore his call to conversion, invoking the promise of "a painful punishment."

ISIS Head Arrested by Assam Police

In a related development, Assam police achieved a significant breakthrough on 20th March with the arrest of Haris Farooqi, identified as the head of ISIS, who had reportedly been active since 2019. The operation also led to the apprehension of associates, including Rehan (alias Anurag Singh) from Panipat. Rehan, who had converted to Islam, further tied his life to these affiliations by marrying a Bangladeshi national, highlighting the complex web of connections and the international scope of the organization's activities and influence.

These events underscore the relentless efforts by security agencies to counter the spread of extremist ideologies and the operational networks of groups like ISIS, which is unequivocally recognized as a terrorist organization. The arrest of key figures within these networks not only disrupts their operations but also serves as a critical deterrent against the proliferation of their ideologies and the recruitment of new members.

ISIS Module in IIT Guwahati? After Arrest of Student Tauseef Ali Farooqui, Another Student Sohail Ur Rahman Questioned Over Suspected Terror Links

Following the apprehension of Tauseef Ali Farooqui, an IIT Guwahati student for his alleged support and declared intention to join the terrorist group ISIS, the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF) initiated an extensive search operation within the IIT campus located in North Guwahati. The arrest has led to suspicions by the Assam Police STF that there could be more students within this prestigious institution linked to ISIS, signaling a potential network or module within the campus.

During their meticulous searches, the police's attention was drawn to another student, Sohail Ur Rahman, who hails from Jammu. Reports indicate that Sohail, a resident of the Lohit hostel at IIT Guwahati, was closely associated with the already arrested student, Tauseef. Led by Kalyan Kumar Pathak, the additional superintendent of police for the Assam Police STF, Sohail is currently undergoing questioning regarding his suspected terror links.

However, the latest updates suggest that Sohail was questioned within the hostel premises itself and has not been transferred to a police station for further interrogation. The possibility of his arrest remains contingent on the discovery of additional incriminating information.

In a related development earlier in the day, Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had disclosed that another student was being closely monitored for suspected terror affiliations and predicted an imminent arrest.

With the emergence of a second student from IIT Guwahati suspected to have ties with ISIS, concerns are intensifying over the possibility that efforts were made to establish an ISIS module within the institution. Reports indicate that the scope of investigation has widened, placing several students and even some faculty members under vigilant surveillance concerning these suspicions.

Meanwhile, Tauseef Ali Farooqui, the student who publicly declared his allegiance to ISIS, has been remanded to police custody for a duration of 10 days following his court appearance. Investigations have revealed Farooqui's devout adherence to his religious practices, notably performing the five daily prayers (namaz) as prescribed in Islam and regularly engaging with the Quran while residing in the hostel.

Farooqui, who pursued Biotechnology, has fulfilled the requirements of his course and was present on campus primarily for the convocation ceremony. During his interrogation, he clarified that although he has not formally joined ISIS, he expresses support for the group. This statement has prompted Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, to comment on Farooqui's state of radicalization, suggesting that Farooqui's case might not be isolated and that there could be others within the institution sharing similar radical viewpoints.

The parents of Tauseef Ali Farooqui arrived in Guwahati after being notified by the Assam Police about the developments concerning their son. This situation unfolded following Tauseef's disappearance post his LinkedIn post on 23rd March, where he declared his support for ISIS, an organization universally recognized as a terrorist group. The subsequent day, Tauseef was observed in the Damdama area of Hajo near Guwahati, visibly displaying a black Islamic flag and vocalizing Islamic slogans. During this incident, when members of the Hindu Jagran Manch confronted him, Tauseef openly professed his support for ISIS. Following this admission, he was apprehended by the group and subsequently turned over to the police.

This sequence of events has sparked significant concern and highlighted the need for vigilance against the spread of extremist ideologies. The intervention by local citizens and the prompt action by law enforcement underscores the critical role of community awareness and cooperation in addressing and preventing the influence of terrorist organizations within society.