Maha ATS Blocks 94 Sites With Radical Content in Anti-ISIS Swoop

Maharashtra ATS has blocked 94 websites websites in India in 2015 in a major anti-ISIS swoop.

Intellgience sources say that they closely monitor the internet and social media which is the breeding ground for the ISIS in India. (Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

Influence of terror outfit ISIS is being seen in nearly a dozen states, including Maharashtra, where police have blocked 94 websites being used to radicalise the youth, a top official said on Sunday.

<p>Influence of ISIS is being seen in 10-12 states (in the country) including Maharashtra. Police have blocked 94 websites in the last year (2015) which were used as a tool to radicalise youth about ISIS.&nbsp;</p>

<b>Vivek Phansalkar, Maharashtra ATS Chief</b>

To counter the “menace of ISIS”, the Maharashtra ATS too has decided to use online tactics.

According to the officer, the good thing is that a lot of community leaders and religious leaders are against this influence (of ISIS) and helping the cops to de-radicalise and create awareness among the youths.

<p>We are preparing to launch a dedicated website of ATS, which will be used as a measure and tool to create awareness among the society and to de-radicalise the people who are falling prey to their tactics. We have to do a lot of confidence building and identify, monitor and counter the menace of ISIS in the society.</p>

<b>Vivek Phansalkar, Maharashtra ATS Chief</b>

Speaking on the recent joint crackdown by the National Investigation Agency and the state ATS in the country, he said

<p>There is a good coordination between the agencies in the country and the recent crackdown and 14 arrests of ISIS sympathisers is the fine example of that (co-ordination).</p>

The radical messages use inflammatory visuals of the “caliphate” as the modus operandi of ISIS, the officer said. He further categorically denied any threat from ISIS to the ATS.

As a counter-measure, Phansalkar said, that the soon-to-be launched website will have counter-narrative to ensure people.

On 22 January, in a major anti-terror swoop across the country ahead of Republic Day, the NIA had taken custody 14 people suspected to be ISIS sympathisers for plotting attacks in different parts of the country.

(With inputs from PTI.)