SOLO assassins

Extremist ideologies enabled by the internet and social media platforms are leading to lone-wolf terrorism, posing a major challenge for law enforcement agencies

- NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA

Lone wolf terrorism is not a recent phenomenon, but India has largely remained immune to it. At least, until recently. The horrific beheading of tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli in the tourist town of Udaipur in Rajasthan on June 28 has exposed the cracks in the country’s security and intelligence machinery. Extremist ideologies, propagated by global terror outfits and enabled by the internet and social media platforms, has condensed into a short attack plan that was executed swiftly in Udaipur before any law enforcement agency could respond.

The key accused, Mohammed Riyaz Akhtari and Ghaus Mohammad, were arrested within four hours by the Rajasthan anti-terrorism squad, but the grisly video of the killing, recorded and posted on social media by the fanatics, sent shock waves across the country. The damage was done: curfews, religious tensions, internet shutdowns and fear spread quickly in many parts of Rajasthan and other states.

“We treated the case as an act of terror right from the beginning,” said Ashok Rathore, chief of the Rajasthan ATS and special operations group. Keeping in mind that Ghaus was closely connected with a Karachi-based Islamist organisation called the Dawat-e-Islami, transnational links were investigated, he said. Investigation has shown that Ghaus visited Karachi in 2014. “We arrested four accused (including the two prime accused) and interrogated five people who are to be examined further by the National Investigation Agency,” said Rathore. “We are closely working with the NIA and other agencies,” he said.