New Delhi: In the wake of attempts made by terrorist outfits like ISIS to propagate jihadi ideology and lure young Indian Muslims, Union Home ministry is looking to replicate US, UK models of deradicalization to restrain the increasing appeal.
The ministry is looking at an “extremism counseling hotline” similar to the one set up in Austria recently. It is being thought upon to enable parents, teachers and friends of "vulnerable and indoctrinated" youth to seek professional help for their "deradicalization".
Apart from this, the Indian security establishment is also looking at US' counter-radicalization program focused on community outreach and UK's Prevent and Channel programmes too.
Also read: Turkish government deports 9 Indian allegedly wanted to join ISIS
As per a report published in Times of India, a senior officer of the Indian government has told that US and UK's deradicalization programmes have achieved only a limited success however, the Austrain helpline centre has received encouraging response within a couple of months of its launch.
The programme which is not linked to the police but is handled by Non-profit groups was launched in December 2014 and in these 50 days it has received nearly 115 calls.
The centre also conducts educational lectures and puts out material to help identify potential threats.
The absence of linkage with police has ensured that the callers are not threatened while seeking help. Infact, in a way it indicates that there is a real need of such centres.
The hotline receives calls from youth drawn to radical views or religious extremism, besides their parents, fellow pupils, social workers and teachers.
Interestingly, many of the callers are women.
Reportedly, as per the Austrian interior ministry, about 170 people are estimated to have left Austria to fight alongside ISIS militants.
According to the current information available with the Indian government sources, unofficially only 12-15 muslim youth, including four residents of Kalyan, Mumbai, are known to have joined the ISIS war in Iraq and Syria.
