ISIS: This Karnataka youth from Bhatkal is now world's most wanted terrorist

The chief recruiter of ISIS from India, Mohammed Shafi Armar, was named as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Mohammed Shafi Armar, also known as Yousuf al-Hindi, hails from Bhatkal of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka is responsible for forming several ISIS-affiliated groups in India Shafi is said to be very tech-savvy. It is speculated that he is in touch with at least 600-700 Indian youths through closed Facebook groups and other social media platforms

The chief recruiter of ISIS from India, Mohammed Shafi Armar, was named as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the US Department of State on Thursday.

The state department has also identified Oussama Ahmad Atar and Mohammed Isa Yousif Saqar Al Binali as SDGTs. Strict sanctions have been imposed on them, and all US nationals are barred from engaging in transactions or dealings with them. All their property and interests in property in the US is now blocked.

The 27-year-old Mohammed Shafi Armar, who also goes by the name Yousuf al-Hindi, hails from Bhatkal of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka. He is responsible for forming several ISIS-affiliated groups in India. Junood al-Khalifa e Hind (JKH), in which more than 50 Indian youngsters were recruited, is one among them.

Shafi and his elder brother Sultan Armar had initially joined the Indian Mujahideen. The Armar brothers fled to Pakistan after a crackdown on Indian Mujahideen members. There they had a fight with the Bhatkal brothers, the founders of Indian Mujahideen, and then created Ansar ul-Tawhid, which later pledged its allegiance to the ISIS.

It was speculated that Shafi had died alongside his brother Sultan in a 2015 bombing in Syria. But the US department’s statement has confirmed that he is alive. 

Shafi is said to be very tech-savvy. It is speculated that he is in touch with at least 600-700 Indian youths through closed Facebook groups and other social media platforms like Trillion, Surespot, WhatsApp and Skype where he has been recruiting more people for the ISIS’ cause.