Audio clip cautions youth over ISIS net

MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada police have been on alert after an audio clip emerged of a Salafi leader of the district appealing to the community youth to be wary of attempts by ISIS and other terrorist groups to recruit them.

The speaker in the audio is being questioned by the police on whether terrorist organisations are making attempts to recruit youth in the district. The development comes close on the heels of rumours that ISIS is spreading its net across the coastal region.In the audio which is being examined by the police, South Karnataka Salafi Movement (SKSM) vice president Ismail Shafi asks the youth to be “very careful” about strangers who approach them and abstain from interacting with them as they may be recruiters of ISIS.

A circular has been issued by the outfit to 30 mosques associated with the Salafi movement in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Hassan districts asking their chiefs not to entertain strangers who seek accommodation in mosques, no matter what the reason is.
Sources said even after the circular was issued, a mosque in Bantwal taluk allowed a group of five strangers to stay on its premises. It is said that the strangers held secret meetings, keeping the locals out. Strangers also reportedly visited mosques at Ullal, Moodbidri, Katipalla and BC Road and held discussions with local youth.

Dakshina Kannada District Superintendent of Police C H Sudheer Kumar Reddy termed the development as “very sensitive”. He told Express that the police are investigating the matter seriously.  The police have been inquiring Ismail Shafi to check whether any attempts are being made by terrorist organisations to recruit youths, he said.