Amid the increasing radicalisation of youth through “intense” propaganda by jehadi groups on the cyberspace and lurking terror threat, the intelligence and investigative agencies have roped in some Islamic scholars to analyse the contents of controversial Islamist preacher Zakir Naik's speeches on Peace TV, Facebook posts and blogs, whose sermons are suspected to be inspiring people towards terrorism.
The scholars will see if his preachings are in sync with the tenets of Islam or are at variance and essentially designed to radicalise people and motivate them to join terror fold. His comments on prescriptions of other religions through Peace TV will also be studied before action is taken against him.
For its part, the Multi-Agency Centre/Intelligence Bureau has issued a country-wide alert, asking the police and security agencies to keep tabs on intense propaganda on the cyberspace which is leading to radicalisation of a section of the youth. Agencies have been asked to pursue leads relating to JMB, radicalised entities and other terrorists modules, including those with pro-ISIS learnings, with a view to disrupt any emerging extremist network and thwart plans of terrorist attacks.
Various Central agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) are also coordinating with one another and with Mumbai Police to conclude the findings against him soon. Action will be taken against Naik if materials suggest his complicity in radicalisation and violation of any existing law.
As many as nine agencies are tracking Naik's preachings, his fundings from different sources and possible adverse effects on national security.
Quoting an Intelligence report, officials said the content of Peace TV, in which Naik regularly appears and gives sermons, is “not conducive” to the security environment in the country and poses “security hazard”.
The probe against the hardline Salafist preacher comes after investigations into the terror attack in Dhaka on July 1 pointed out that at least one of the six terrorists, who attacked a restaurant in diplomatic area of Dhaka earlier this month was inspired by his speeches. Subsequently, Bangladesh has banned Peace TV.
Naik's activities are also banned in a few other countries including United Kingdom, Canada and Malaysia.
Activities of NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), set up by Naik, are also under the scanner of the Union Home Ministry, amidst allegations that funds from abroad received by it have been spent on political activities and inspiring people towards radical views.
Most of the funds to the NGO registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) came from United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and a few other Middle East countries. IRF has allegedly received about Rs15 crore for a period of five years, preceding 2012. Subsequent funding of the organization is also being probed by the Ministry for possible violations under FCRA, an official said.
The Home Ministry probe is covering the allegations that foreign funding to IRF was used in political activities and that the NGO's funds were also used to induce people towards Islam and “attracting” youths towards terror, the official said.
All such activities are contrary to FCRA and any violation invites punitive action.
The Ministry is also probing if foreign contributions received by the NGO were utilised for the stated objectives for which the donations were accepted or were diverted for other activities, officials added.
Apart from the IB, NIA and Home Ministry, separate probes are underway with the ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Information Technology Ministry. The Mumbai Police is conducting conducting a probe on the allegations relating to the alleged hate speeches by Naik.
“The intense propaganda on the cyberspace has led to radicalisation of a miniscule section of Indian youth which is evident from busting of Jund-ul-Khalifa module and consequent arrests of pro-ISIS elements in January, 2016 besides the recent (June 2016) arrests of five ISIS elements in Hyderabad. The attack on a police constable on September 25, 2015 at Pusad, Yavatmal, Maharashtra while the constable was on law and order duty on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha , by a self radicalised youth was an outcome of radicalisation due to intense propaganda on the cyberspace,” said the alert circulated to various police and security agencies.
“Security agencies may pursue leads pertaining to JMB (Jamat-ul-Mujahideen-Bangladesh), radicalised entities and other terrorist modules in their jurisdiction. Agencies may also harness resources particularly in cyberspace to identify and cover activities of pro-ISIS entities with a view to disrupt any emerging extremist network and thwart plans of self-radicalised individuals to carry out any terrorist attack,” added the alert issued on July 6.