Islamic Extremism in India - Rise of home-grown terrorism

Islamic activists demonstrate in Hyderabad, calling for the reconstruction of the Babri mosque, whose destruction by Hindu mobs in 1992 helped to radicalise Indian Muslims

In March, India announced that its prestigious cricket tournament, the Indian Premier League (IPL), would move to South Africa, citing security fears during the country's elections, which also take place in the April - May. Organisers were most concerned about a 'spectacular' like that in Mumbai in 2008, or an attack similar to that on the Sri Lankan cricket team recently in Pakistan. But the move also focused attention on the rise in home-grown Indian jihadi terrorism. Although it long insisted that Islamic extremism had not developed among its Muslim communities, India iss now having to accept that a small section of its 160-million-strong Muslim community - the second largest after Indonesia's and accounting for 14% of the largely Hindu population - has become radicalised. The next government will need to take formal cognisance of this development and embark on reducing the threat.

Author: IISS Startegic Comments

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