Indian security establishment alive to ISIS threat

Home minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the policy division of the ministry and asked for revision & strengthening of security at vital installations.

 NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) declaring war on various countries including India, the internal security establishment has already begun preparing for a threat that is as yet being seen as "not immediate" but hardly very "distant".

While intelligence agencies are closely tracking developments in the middle-east along with mounting surveillance on Indians reported to be fighting alongside ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the major concern for Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is a spillover of the sectarian strife in the region to India.

"The issue has been discussed within the ministry and apprehensions about a conflict between Shias and Sunnis erupting in the immediate future or later in the country is not being ruled out. An advisory in this regard has already been sent to various states but more preparations are on," said a senior home ministry official.

In a Ramzan speech, ISIS commander Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is learnt to have called on believers to take up arms and terrify the enemies of Allah in various countries including India. TOI had on June 19 reported that India was in ISIS crosshairs as one of the world dominion maps of the outfit had shown parts of North-West India as part of Islamic State of Khorasan.

A combo of two handout pictures released by the US Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security (left) and by Iraqi Ministry of Interior allegedly shows photographs of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, also known as Abu Du'a. (AFP Photo)

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday held a meeting with the policy division of the ministry and asked for revision and strengthening of security at vital installations. He also asked for strengthening of VIP security.

Sources said the minister was given a low down on the security arrangement for VIPs in the meeting. The minister "desired that these security arrangements may be reviewed and suitably strengthened, wherever required. He further directed that the security audit of vital installations, wherever due, may be carried out and additional forces deployed, if found necessary, so as to ensure that adequate security arrangements are in place for such installations," said a home ministry spokesperson.

For this, the ministry is also reviewing budget provisions earmarked for making security arrangements and is likely to enhance the same.

Members loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) wave ISIS flags as they drive around Raqqa on June 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)

Rajnath Singh also stressed on exploring avenues for strengthening bilateral security relations with the neighbouring countries. This would include execution of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in criminal matters with as many countries as possible, and specifically with the neighboring countries. India already has MLAT agreements with 36 countries and another 15 are in the pipeline. India has been pushing for MLAT with Pakistan as well but it has not yet come on board. Sources said the matter would be pushed again with the western neighbour.

Singh is learnt to have also asked bureaucrats to come up with new ideas for the forthcoming SAARC Conference of Home Ministers for deliberations during the Conference. The meeting was attended among others by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami.