IS vows revenge for Babri, Assam killings

New Indian jihadists’ video claims that ‘cow-worshipping’ Hindus are responsible for violence against Muslims in many places, including Mumbai, Gujarat, Assam and Moradabad

New Delhi, May 21: Indian jihadists of the Islamic State - among them an Thane engineering student - have threatened to avenge the demolition of the Babri mosque and the killing of Muslims across the country, including Assam, in the latest video released by the Islamic State.

This is the first time an Islamic State video features Indian jihadists and specifically mentions their planned action in India and South Asia.

 "We will return, but with a sword in hand, to slice your throats, to avenge the Babri Masjid, and the killings of Muslims in Kashmir, in Gujarat, and in Muzaffargar," an English daily quoted the Thane resident, Fahad Tanvir Sheikh, as saying in the video.

 "Muslims are not safe in India. New restrictions are being imposed and our freedom is being taken away," Sheikh says in the video.

The report says that Sheikh was the only Indian conclusively identified in the video.

"After the Batla House encounter, things became very hard for us. The ATS, police and investigative agencies were after us. We somehow fled India, worked with the Mujahideen and reached Khorasan region," he said.

Four youngsters from Mumbai's outskirts  - Aarif Majid, Fahad Tanvir Sheikh, Amaan Tandel and Saheem Tanki - had fled to Syria to join Islamic State in May 2014.

Of these, Aarif Majid - who returned soon after - is currently in the custody of the tiol Investigation Agency. Tanki is supposed to have been killed in a bomb attack in Raqqa last year, a mention Sheikh makes in the video.

"We will avenge every atrocity committed against Muslims. Have you forgotten Bombay train serial blasts? Have you forgotten Gujarat? Have you forgotten Delhi? We will avenge everything," said one of the Jihadis.

Sheikh is also heard exhorting Muslims in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan to join their movement to establish an Islamic caliphate in the region.

"They are killing you, sometimes in the me of cow and sometimes for other reasons. Our women are not safe. They want to convert us to Hindus," said one of the jihadists in the video.

Reports state that several still-to-be-identified members in the video could be former members of Indian Mujahideen.

The video also claims that 'cow-worshipping' Hindus are responsible for violence against Muslims in many places, including Mumbai, Gujarat, Assam and Moradabad.

"It is strictly prohibited to worship anyone except Allah. These Kafirs worship cow, sun and moon. There is strict prohibition to maintain ties with those who are against Allah," one of the jihadists.

One of the jihadists, speaking in English, says that India must either accept Islam, pay jizya (a medieval tax for non-believers of Islam) or prepared to be slaughtered.

"If the Indians claim themselves to be smart and intelligent, spending immense amounts of money in researching and trying to find out what we really want. Then I would like to let them know, that they have three options and they can choose one: they either accept Islam, pay jizya and be prepared to be slaughtered," he said.

The jihadists also launched a tirade against the Indian Muslims for maintaining trade and social relations with the 'infidels'.

They have has also criticised the Muslim politicians and clerics for compromising with a purported tyrannical system responsible for massacring Muslims.