Very few individuals come to govt notice as having joined ISIS: Minister

"Very few individuals" have come to the notice of government agencies as having joined the terror group ISIS, though 90 suspected sympathisers have been arrested so far, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

The Islamic State or Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) -- also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)/Daesh -- has been notified as a terrorist organisation and included in the first schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, by the Central government, Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in a written reply.

"The ISIS is using various Internet-based social media platforms to propagate its ideology. However, very few individuals have come to the notice of the Central and state security agencies who have joined ISIS," he said.

The National Investigation Agency and state police have registered cases against ISIS/ISIL sympathisers and arrested around 90 accused so far, he said.

"Further, the Central and state agencies are monitoring the cyber space and taking action as per the law. To assess and counter the incipient threat posed by the ISIS/ISIL, meetings have been held by the Ministry of Home Affairs with Central agencies and the state governments concerned," he said.

The minister gave data of casualties of security personnel in terror incidents carried out by Pakistan-based and supported terror groups, terrorists arrested and killed in Jammu and Kashmir and the hinterland of the country and security personnel killed.

According to data relating to the hinterland from 2014 to 2017, one terror incident was reported in 2015 and one in 2016. No incidents were reported in 2014 and 2017.

Four security personnel and three terrorists were killed in the 2015 Gurdaspur terror incident while seven security personnel and four terrorists were killed in the 2016 Pathankot terror attack. No terrorists were arrested during the period, the data shows.

According to the data from Jammu and Kashmir, 222 terror incidents were reported in 2014, 208 in 2015, 322 in 2016 and 194 till July 31, 2017.

Forty-seven security personnel were killed in 2014, 39 in 2015, 82 in 2016 and 39 in 2017 up to July 31. It says 110 terrorists were killed in 2014, 108 in 2015, 150 in 2016 and 115 up to July 31, 2017.

The Jammu and Kashmir data given by the minister shows that 70 terrorists were arrested in 2014, 67 in 2015, 79 in 2016 and 44 in 2017 up to July 31.