Security agencies here have denied that an Indian fought alongside the Islamic State (IS) at Marawi in southern Philippines which was seized by the Islamist militant group a month ago.
A Reuters report said on May 30 that “dozens of foreign jihadis,” which included an Indian, “fought side-by-side with Islamic State sympathisers against security forces”.
Enquiries conducted
Following the report, security agencies conducted enquiries but could not get any information on the presence of an Indian there.
At least two top intelligence officials told The Hindu that they could not identify any Indian who could have travelled to the island city to participate in the fight.
“No Indian who travelled to Syria-Iraq or Afghanistan is said to be in the Philippines. We got in touch with the authorities in the East Asian country but they have not shared any such information with us,” said one of the two intelligence officials.
Around 25 Indians are said to have travelled to the IS-controlled territory in Iraq-Syria in the past three years, while 21 men, women and children from Kerala made their way to the Khorasan province in Afghanistan in 2016.
Rumiyah, a propaganda magazine of the IS, in its latest issue has dedicated a chapter on the Philippines’ fight and also carries an interview with the Shaykh Abu Abdillah al-Mujahir, the amir (chief) of the IS in East Asia.
He says in the magazine that a large number of mujahideen have reached Philippines from “various countries in the region of East Asia, and even from regions outside East Asia,” confirming the presence of foreign fighters but doesn’t mention their nationality.
“We have identified the Indians who made their way to the IS-controlled territory, but so far no evidence has emerged that any Indian travelled to the Philippines. It could be an expatriate but we are not sure,” said another official.
The official, however, said there were tell-tale signs of trouble brewing in the East Asian country since February-March this year when it was informed of the militant outfit’s plan to lay siege in the predominantly Catholic nation.
The Armed Forces of Philippines (AFP) have been engaged in a prolonged battle with the Maute-IS group, which has claimed the lives of more than 300 civilians so far.
The radical outfit formed in 2012 by two brothers, Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute, has pledged allegiance to the IS. It has the support of Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the Abu Sayyaf and one of the most-wanted terrorists in the U.S.
