Terror threat looms large on India, says NSG chief

In the wake of Bardhaman blasts in West Bengal, that opened a “can of worms” regarding terrorist modules operating in India, NSG director general JN Choudhury on Thursday has warned that terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e Toiba (LeT), Islamic State in Syria (ISIS), Al-Qaeda and Indian Mujahideen (IM) might be joining together to lauch an attack on India. "Now that they (Al Qaeda) have declared their intention to attack India, they might combine with outfits like Lashkar e Taiba, ISIS and Indian Mujahideen," said Choudhury, who heads the country’s topmost and elite counter-terror organization. "If they do have combined operations, we have to prepare for multi-city and multiple terror attacks," he added.

According to intelligence sources, the attackers might also incorporate terrorist organizations like Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI), Jaish-e Mohammed (JeM) and Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). The last-mentioned entity was involved with the blast in Bardhaman district of West Bengal, which killed 2 terrorists. The incident brought to light the massiveness and depth of the terrorist modules and “sleeper-cell” which are very much active in this part of the country.

In a video released last month, the dreaded Al Qaeda leader has announced the formation of an Indian wing of the terrorists to take forward the "jihad" in this part of the world. Zawahri announced the India wing for the Muslims of Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujarat and Kashmir. He said the new wing will be in support of the Muslims facing oppression. “Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent would be good news for Muslims in Burma, Bangladesh and in the Indian states of Assam, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir where they would be rescued from injustice and oppression,” Zawahiri was heard saying in Urdu and Arabic language. In the 55 minute video message, Al-Qaeda supremo also lent his support to Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar. The Bardhaman blast proved that India will suffer if Ayman’s message is not taken seriously.

Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, the top army commander in the Jammu & Kashmir region, said, "ISIS has the capacity of attracting youths and that is a concern for us." His reactions came after ISIS banners appeared in the state recently on different occasions. Though Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said ISIS has no presence in his state, but Intelligence officials have been trying to determine whether ISIS is galvanizing support among Kashmiri youth.