Islamic State – Hind Province

Shafi Armar, a former member of the Indian Mujahideen, was formerly the chief of operations for the IS in India. He and his brother Sultan Armar founded the Indian ISIS affiliates Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (transl. Supporters of Monotheism in the Land of India) and Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind (transl. Caliph's Army of India). Both he and his brother were killed in action during Syrian Civil War in 2015, which was only confirmed in 2019 because his online account was controlled by other militants in the group which added to the confusion. Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind published the pro-IS propaganda magazine Sawt al-Hind (transl. Voice of India) from February 2020 until May 2022.

Incidents

On 20 March 2024, the special forces arrested the ISIS India chief, Haris Farooqi and one of his associates while they were trying to cross to India from neighbouring Bangladesh. Police explained that the suspects had planned many sabotage activities and IED attacks inside India.

On 9 August 2024, Rizwan Ali, an ISIS operative was arrested by the NIA while planning an attack in New Delhi.

A terror plot was foiled after police arrested Ashhar Danish, a young man who was covertly manufacturing bombs for ISIS in a dilapidated lodge in Ranchi’s Islamnagar area. The lodge, known as Tabarak Lodge, posed as a hotel but was in fact a hub for terror activities, including bomb-making and recruitment.