Ministry split on case against ISIS

The NIA had proposed registering a case as a “preventive measure”.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is divided on the issue of filing a case against militant outfit Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) taking opposite stands. The ministry has now asked the IB to state why it feels an FIR should not be lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA had proposed registering a case as a “preventive measure”. However, according to IB, registering an FIR would deter young men, who are said to have joined the ISIS, from returning to India.

“The IB has raised concern over the impact of registering an FIR on youngsters who left the country to join ISIS. The NIA feels that the group could pose a threat to India and the FIR would ensure anyone associated with the group can be prosecuted,” said a ministry official.

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The final call would be taken by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

“An FIR would give us ground to investigate and build evidence against groups in India involved in radicalising youth and arranging their visits to Iraq to join the ISIS,” said the official.

Four young men from Kalyan in Maharashtra are believed to have joined the outfit. One of them is said to have been killed while fighting.

Since the group has not committed any crime in India, the ministry is exploring the option of registering the case under some preparatory sections, like Section 18 of the Act.

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The Section states: “Whoever conspires or attempts to commit, or advocates, abets, advises or incites or knowingly facilitates the commission of a terrorist act or any act preparatory to the commission of a terrorist act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”

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