Security agencies in India should now become extra vigilant following jihadist group’s open proclamation of waging ‘direct jihad’ in India and also shatter the country by spreading religious extremism and destroy its secularist social fabric.
According to media reports, incriminating chats have come out from the WhatsApp groups of modules ‘Ghazwa-e-Hind’, mentioned by the Bihar Police in a press briefing. As per MS Dhillon, Senior Superintendent of Police, there were two groups found on the phone of an individual named Marguv Ahmad Danish alias Tahir arrested from Phulwari Sharif.
The first group created using a Pakistani number, had over 181 members including those from countries like India, Pakistan, Yemen and other gulf countries. Another group was created in January 2022 that had eight members from Bangladesh and one from Pakistan. On the groups, lessons were given on Jihad, on destabilizing law and order situation in India, while they plotted to begin their notorious actions from 2023.
The development comes a day after Bihar Police unearthed a chilling document that talked about plans to establish an “Islamic government” in India by the 100th anniversary of the country’s independence. The eight-page document titled ‘India 2047- Towards rule of Islam in India’ was recovered after police busted a potential jihadist module.
Earlier, one of the most wanted terrorists in India, Farhatullah Ghori has released a series of videos to instigate jihadist attacks in the country by mostly targeting non-Muslims, more precisely – Hindus.
Farhatullah Ghori, who is operating from Pakistan and was long forgotten by the Indian intelligence agencies, has suddenly come out of the hiding to start a new campaign, resurrecting the Ghazwa-e-Hind, and surprising everyone at a time when Pakistan is being closely watched for its actions on terrorist groups. What is significant is the timing of his resurrection, which coincides with events directly deciding the fate of Pakistan in the international arena. Equally important is the probable security threats which may occur in India as a fallout of these campaigns.
Resurgence of Ghazwa-e-Hind
“Make Hijrah [migration] for Allah, Hijrah to Assam, Hijrah to Kashmir” appeals a sermonic voice purportedly belonging to an individual named “Ustad” in a 1:45 video clip.
“Ustad” is otherwise known by his nom de guerre Abu Sufiyan. He is also known by his real name, Farhatullah Ghori, among counter-terrorism experts in India. He is one of the most wanted terrorists with direct links to top leadership of Pakistan based terrorist group Lashkar E Toiba (LeT) and Harkat ul Jihadi al Islami (HUJI) in the 2000s. Considered to be one of the masterminds of the Aksardham Temple attack in Gujarat (2002) and a suicide attack on a Special Task Force camp at Hyderabad (2005), he has evaded arrest ever since. Indian authorities have been chasing this individual, an elusive ghost, despite a Red Corner Notice. Evidence suggests that Ghori was initially in Saudi Arabia but may has already moved to Pakistan.
Ghori has released at least 10 videos since March 2022, the latest coming at the end of June 2022.
According to a report published in The Print, these videos are “most likely made by Ghori or at his behest”.
“Commence preparations for Jihad” demands Ghori to the Islamic community in a video series titled Ghazwa Series. Ghori’s videos touches upon contemporary issues involving Muslim community in India.
This is not the first time such a clarion call for Ghazwa-e-Hind (the prophesied final battle against India) has been made. The Islamic State and Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) had made similar calls earlier, highlighted by Geopolitical Monitor. Nonetheless, this is the first time, an individual terrorist sans organizational backing, has made such a call.
From the above evidences and circumstances, it is evidently clear that a number of radical Islamic jihadist groups are secretly plotting jihadist massacre targeting India and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Similarly, jihadist groups also are engaged in conspiracy targeting Bangladesh and ruling Awami League. According to credible sources, several members of pro-Caliphate Hefazat-e-Islam have already joined hands with global jihadist groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State (ISIS) with the dangerous agenda of destabilizing law and order situation in Bangladesh targeting 2023 general elections.
