"He [Majeed] says he attempted to take an explosive-laden vehicle near a few vital installations in Syria with the aim of attracting security forces towards him. The idea was to blow up the vehicle when enough men in uniform were around him. However, the suspicious security at these places completely avoided him, defeating the purpose," an Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) official was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
During a NIA and Indian Intelligence Bureau lie detector test, Majeed had claimed that IS had him perform only noncombat duties. However, after sustained interrogation, the young man admitted he had been trained by IS to carry out suicide attacks.
The recruit had also reportedly taken part in the fight for Mosul dam in Iraq in August, according to the security agency employee, as cited by the newspaper.
"After sustaining bullet injuries, he was given $2,000 by ISIS [IS] as reward and medical assistance before he fled to Turkey and decided to come back home," the NIA officer told the Times of India.
Majeed, a 23-year-old student from Kalyan, India, had traveled to Iraq to join the extremist rebel group in May. He was arrested November 28 upon his return to India, and charged with conspiring to commit a terrorist act and being a member of a foreign terrorist organization.
IS is known for a sophisticated propaganda strategy, recruiting via the Internet and numerous dire human rights abuses. According to NIA, over 300 Indian youths had been recruited by the IS and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella organization of Islamist militant groups.
On November 29, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that IS represents a major security threat to the country. He also expressed concern about the impact of IS teachings on Indian youth.
