Islamic State (IS) is most active in southern state including Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and is using various internet based social media platforms to propagate its ideology, the government told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
"Some instances of individuals from different states, including southern states, having joined Islamic State (IS) have come to the notice of Central and state security sgencies. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered 17 cases related to the presence of IS in southern states of Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and arrested 122 accused persons," Minister of State for Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy said in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha.
Islamic State, Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Daish, Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), ISIS Wilayat Khorasan, Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and all its manifestations have been notified as Terrorist Organization and included in the First Schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by the Central Government, the reply said.
"IS is using various internet based social media platforms to propagate its ideology. Cyber space is being closely watched in this regard by the agencies concerned and action is taken as per law," he said.
Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have revealed that the IS is most active in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, he added.
