Hyderabad: Online recruiters of terror outfits like ISIS are luring Hyderabad professionals to join them, but after crossing the Indian shores the gullible men are realising that it is a sham and their handlers are actually a breakaway faction of Indian Mujahideen (IM) working for al-Qaida, sources said.
The breakaway group of IM, led by one Sultan and others, is reportedly carrying out online recruitment through Al Isabha website, and cheating professionals attracted by the Caliphate concept. "The ISIS is flush with funds and professional manpower, but it is the al-Qaida which is in need of talent to deal with software applications," sources said.
Dilsukhnagar twin blasts prime accused Riyaz Bhatkal and his brother Iqbal Bhatkal reportedly developed differences with other IM members, who are taking shelter either in Pakistan or Saudi Arabia. The breakaway faction joined hands with al-Qaida and started recruitment in India for the outfit. "It is through Sultan, al-Qaida members like Zahid Hindi are drafting Indians into the terror network.
Saidabad resident Moutasim Billah allegedly advised two recently arrested SIMI activists - Sha Mudassir and Shoaib - from Maharashtra to join al-Qaida and not ISIS,'' sources in security agencies said. "The indoctrinated professionals are kept in the dark about their final destination. Once they cross the Indian border, they realize that they are mere pawns and their handlers cheated them with the intention to take them to Afghanistan and not Iraq or Syria, where the ISIS is in command," they said.
The recruitment is reportedly being done by Al Isabha media members by splitting into teams and stationing themselves in Dubai (UAE) or Saudi Arabia or in remote places in India. "The 'interested' persons are tested for several months before al-Qaida veterans like Zahid Hindi and others zero in on worthy candidates after making them go through various elimination rounds," the sources said.
Hyderabad police foil techie's bid to join ISIS
 Meanwhile, Hyderabad police foiled the attempt of a former Google India employee Munawad Salman from joining ISIS. Salman was nabbed by police and questioned to gather more details about his plan to join the ranks of ISIS. After counselling he was let off. Salman, who hailed from Tamil Nadu, got attracted to jihadist group through social media networks and had planned to join its forces. Salman, who had worked at the Hyderabad office of Google before quitting his job around seven months back, was picked up following inputs that he was making efforts to procure a visa to Saudi Arabia from where he allegedly planned to flee to Iraq.