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NEW DELHI: An Indian student who travelled to Iraq to join the Islamic State group has returned home disillusioned after jihadists made him clean toilets and do other menial jobs, according to media reports.
Areeb Majeed, 23, left for Iraq with three friends in late May amid fears by authorities that IS militants were attempting to recruit from India's large pool of young Muslim men.
The engineering student flew home Friday to Mumbai where he was arrested and charged by India's elite National Investigation Agency (NIA) with terror-related offences.
Majeed told NIA officers he was sidelined by the jihadists for whom he fetched water and performed other lowly tasks such as cleaning toilets, instead of taking part in the deadly offensive like he wanted, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
He phoned his family to say he wanted to come home after suffering an unexplained bullet wound for which he did not get proper medical attention, the agency said late Sunday.
“Only after I begged them, I was taken to a hospital,” he was quoted as saying by NIA officers. “There was neither a holy war nor any of the preachings in the holy book were followed."
India's moderate population of 150 million Muslims have traditionally not been drawn into sectarian conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, but the case of the four raised concerns about online recruitment.
Al Qaeda announced in September a new chapter of its extremist movement charged with waging jihad in South Asia, prompting several Indian states to be placed on high alert.
Tanvir Sheikh, the father of one of Majeed's friends who was still missing in Iraq, said he felt betrayed by his son.
Sheikh said his son Fahad was offered a job in Kuwait but instead decided to travel to Iraq to join the extremists.
“He had got a job offer from Kuwait with a salary of three lakh rupees ($4,800) but he ignored that and instead took up arms. Now what happens to his future?” Sheikh told the Indian Express newspaper on Monday.
“I feel let down by my son. He had a bright career ahead of him but he took advantage of our love and betrayed us."
Radicalised foreigners have been drawn to the IS group, which has conducted a series of mass executions and other atrocities since launching its offensive in Iraq and Syria in June.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (93) Closed
Dec 01, 2014 03:27pm
Thanks for publishing.. hopefully lesson learnt by him and by reading this, some others
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Dec 01, 2014 03:28pm
I really want to laugh but i feel it will be Inappropriate,
This Guy must understand he was lucky that he did not get to kill innocent people, and got away by doing only petty jobs.
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Dec 01, 2014 03:30pm
Unfortunately this is how the Younger generation is being led astray. The thought of becoming a Pirate, a Warrior, a Jihadist just for the taste of adventure, becomes the basis for these recruitment's. This so sad that Parents have worked all their lives to raise these kids to have a better future and look what it got them.
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Dec 01, 2014 03:35pm
What an injustice! Nearly died laughing reading this... ;)
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Dec 01, 2014 03:36pm
Its time to see the reality and move on to peaceful ways. The so called jihadi movements so far have been nothing but terror outfits which believed in killing the enemy to make space for themselves. I am hoping that with oil boom coming to an end, the petro dollars will dry up and so will violence. After all everything is about money so far.
Peace and Prosperity to humanity is the basic way forward.
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Dec 01, 2014 03:42pm
Indian Govt should b lenient on him and give him another chance to lead a normal life if he did not harm anybody
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Dec 01, 2014 03:43pm
We have to keep reading such sad stories as they keep leaking out. What is it that attracts educated youngsters to go and join others in another country to perpetrate gruesome violence ? When killing even one human is not allowed in Islam, wonder what Islam has been taught to these youth and by whom ?
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Dec 01, 2014 03:51pm
“There was neither a holy war nor any of the preachings in the holy book were followed."
This should open the eyes of other wannabe IS recruit from Pakistan and India. This is how they play with the religious sentiment of some emotional fools. not some, now there are many.
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Dec 01, 2014 04:02pm
Sounds suspicious. The authorities should investigate properly about his story. He could be the sleeper cell later...
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Dec 01, 2014 04:05pm
Well Areeb, you have learnt your lesson and have suffered. Hope everyone forgives you, especially your parents. There is no glory in war and killing. Seek forgiveness of your parents and look after them. Be a law abiding citizen and serve your country.
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Dec 01, 2014 04:08pm
He would be stupid to admit otherwise! He has all the incentives to lie and the govt too who would want his example to sway potential jihadis from joining the is in syria!
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Dec 01, 2014 04:21pm
"India’s moderate population of 150 million Muslims have traditionally not been drawn into sectarian conflicts ... ... ..."
Would you check if India's Muslim population is really 150 million? I thought it was close to 250 million.
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Dec 01, 2014 04:31pm
Keep an eye on this kid but this is a trend. ISIS is not Islam and unprovoked attacks on civilians cannot be justified in Islam.
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Dec 01, 2014 04:36pm
Well, this was what our PM talking about! India's Muslims are decent citizen who have been conned by the so called enlightened Muslims of Pakistan and other fanatic ones that are rampaging around the Globe. I count among many Muslims who are my friend and never I heard them speak of any ills. In India if you are prepared work hard and show some resolve anyone irrespective of their religion. creed can reach the top. God willing, this kid in question was educated enough to understand the difference and realized quick enough that he was headed on the wrong track. He should serve the punishment and move on with his life with his second chance!
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Dec 01, 2014 04:46pm
Rather than jailing this young man, he should be made to be road shows and TV interviews of his experiences. It's important people know that ISIS is not Islamic whatsoever.
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Dec 01, 2014 05:02pm
This is classical case of Taquiyya......we haev to wait nad watch... he has not expressedregrets for giong to fight for ISIS.. he oldy said he was asked ot keep security ofslaves , clean toilets etc.....
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Dec 01, 2014 05:04pm
Put him in jail for ever and check all others associated with him friends ,mosque mulla and if found guilty put them in jail too.These people should be marginalized for ever.I am a Muslim and say openly that we don't speak against these people we have a very dark future ahead of us.
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Dec 01, 2014 05:37pm
Something is disturbing, or may be it is media with sensational headlines, that his regret is not getting a chance to take part in war and kill people instead do menial tasks!
Nevertheless, he should be taken on road shows if he is sincere in his regrets for right reasons.
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Dec 01, 2014 05:43pm
"Indian IS recruit goes home after having to clean toilets: reports"
hahahahahahahaha well done Mr. Modi.
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Dec 01, 2014 06:12pm
@Karan ... Are you kidding me? You never know why he came back... may be to recruit more or do some other stuff
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Dec 01, 2014 06:31pm
The irony. The only thing Indians are imported to do in the Middle East is to do menial and sanitary work. The funny thing is they don't even have toilets in India.
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Dec 01, 2014 06:39pm
@Ismail
The point to note is that these recruiters are careful not to get themsleves killed but motivate others to go and blow themselves.Smart move.
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Dec 01, 2014 06:49pm
Arabs have always treated people from the subcontinent like dirt. The pecking order that is found in all spheres of life in the Mideast is being followed even in Jihad. No escaping it even if he had accepted the job in Kuwait. Its about time we the people of South Asia feel proud of our own achievements and history and do something constructive rather than follow destructive ideologies.
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Dec 01, 2014 07:00pm
I probably shouldn't laugh, but this is hilarious.
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Dec 01, 2014 07:10pm
Laut ke buddhu ghar ko aaye
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Dec 01, 2014 07:13pm
Sad stories. It happens, when one decides to follow the shadows of past instead of the lights of future. I hope, Indian authorities would show mercy for these mislead youngsters. And, I wish, the others would learn their lessons from these disillusions.
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Dec 01, 2014 07:15pm
The article should also have mentioned:
What motivated him to join IS?
How did they recruit him?
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Dec 01, 2014 07:23pm
Exactly how large is the Indian Muslim population? I often hear it is larger then Pakistan's, mostly from Indians. The official Indian figures paint a different picture. Pakistan's total population crossed the 200 million mark a couple of years ago according to PEW and bypassed Brazil's to become the world's 5th largest nation.
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Dec 01, 2014 07:25pm
I have serious reservations over his statement. Though I am a strong condemner of ISIS in all aspects but I doubt how was he allowed to get back to his home country when he once remained a part of ISIS. I believe ISIS is a strong militant outfit which would make sure the internal security with full integrity within its Organization and by allowing a person like Areeb to leave the group to fly back in such unharmful manner, raises a lot in my mind......
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Dec 01, 2014 07:36pm
@Pashtunyar ISIS is worst than what that guy revealed. People are using religion for their malicious goals. Muslims must open their eyes before get killed in vain.
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Dec 01, 2014 07:47pm
His story sounds like a Bollywood movie
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Dec 01, 2014 08:03pm
Thanks for posting this story, this is real journalism, high time we join together and fight this menace and start publishing the other side of terrorism specially for the young kids... he is a luck guy that he got back... we Indians will surely support him and applaud him for his effort....
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Dec 01, 2014 08:06pm
I just cannot believe the hypocrisy of the Indians commenting on this story! Had this lad been of Pakistani origin they would have been shouting 'off with his head!' and 'it is the fault of the Pakistan Government?!'.
One rule for one comes to mind...
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Dec 01, 2014 08:30pm
The Muslims of India share India with the rest of us. They are tolerant and by and large live in peace with the rest of us. Their contribution to India and our progress is immense and we are proud of them being a part of us. ISIS may be able to rip apart a directorship like Syria a completely corrupt society like Nigeria or a sectarian society like Iraq. They may even be able to do something similar in Pakistan. India will be a different cup of tea for Indian Muslims by and large will not buy into their violent means. We Indians may profess different faiths. But, there is much more that binds us together as a naton and a people than divides us.
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Dec 01, 2014 08:39pm
@HD... cleaning toilet isn't a menial task. Killing people for illiterate fools if slamic State certainly is.
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Dec 01, 2014 09:01pm
Areeb is lucky to come back alive. Nobody has come back alive not even foreign hostages.
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Dec 01, 2014 09:30pm
Still laughing ......
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Dec 01, 2014 10:22pm
There is nothing to laugh. He is an educated person and made a choice to join a terror organization both willingly and knowingly. He should be made responsible fo his choices and and no mercy be shown on him or any of his cronies.
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Dec 01, 2014 10:38pm
@Ghalib But if you trust the media reports, it is being reported that the guy is still justifying the IS ideology.
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Dec 01, 2014 10:55pm
@Rana Your argument is based on assumption and is invalid.
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Dec 01, 2014 11:49pm
People who are reported to be cutting innocent peopls' throats, how did they let him go back without slitting his throat. Press Trust of India did not report through what route and which countries did he travel to arrive Islamic State. And did he have visa documents for those countries. Which Airport did he fly from to arrive back to Mumbi. Was it a direct flight from International Airport of Islamic State to Mumbi International Airport! It is also not clear if he brought any business proposals from the Islamic State for the perusal of His Highness Mr. Moodi. Until above questions are not answered this report remains dubious.
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Dec 02, 2014 12:20am
@Karan. No Karan not at all! No one should be spared for engaging or intention to engage in terrorism. Areeb Majeed has to be made an example
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Dec 02, 2014 12:59am
@Rana : I don't think it has any thing to do with wether he is Indian or Pakistani! It's just that nobody is sure of what to make of it! Is he telling the truth? Or is he a plant? Did he come back of his own volition or following orders?
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Dec 02, 2014 01:42am
@Rashid Yeah 150 million is slightly underestimating it but it is near 173 million out of 1286 million total current population with a decadal growth rate of 29% and decreasing .
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Dec 02, 2014 02:01am
My Spider sense is tingling. I don't buy this guy's story. He should be kept in prison under close watch. On the positive side, Modi's infrastructure drive will create lots of civil engineering jobs, so he could land a job even in prison. A recent recruitment drive in Tihar jail landed the inmates a lot of plum jobs.
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Dec 02, 2014 02:08am
There's no proof that he cleaned toilet or he killed people however there are enough proofs that he joined ISIS. That should be enough to justify his arrest and he should be punished or at least his Indian citizenship should be cancelled.
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Dec 02, 2014 02:38am
@Masud Awan His release and travel was arranged by NIA (National Investigation Agency, India), while they are looking for other 4 who also went from same area.
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Dec 02, 2014 03:25am
@Rashid sahab - And I had thought it was 500 million.
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Dec 02, 2014 04:20am
@Rainman so true
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Dec 02, 2014 04:28am
India has launched the Swacch Bharat Abhiyan. This fellow should be made a permanent representative, especially given his experience with the ISIS.
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Dec 02, 2014 04:31am
Talk about a lose lose situation. Not only did Areeb make a bad choice to join the terrorists, he was treated as a third class migrant worker by the middle eastern group. Top it of with another bad decision. Come back crying, to complain about not being able to kill like the other bad boys.
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Dec 02, 2014 05:42am
@LS
How do you know? This information is not in the report.
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Dec 02, 2014 05:57am
@Masud Awan all these are genuine questions and it is the irresponsibility of Indian govt and security agencies; they haven't taken any concrete steps for prevention of these kind of things;how can he land in Istambul airport with out a visa? why did Turkey give him visa? @ the airport, they should have probed about the reason/s, howcome an young muslim is travelling to Turkey? atleast, they should have cross checked with their parents; Indian govt is not acting properly
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Dec 02, 2014 07:43am
To behead innocent civilians and sell minority women into slavery is acceptable but to clean dirty toilets - well - that is the straw that broke the camels back...
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Dec 02, 2014 07:53am
Your parents give education worth $4800 a month and a peaceful life. And you wish you have a gun in hands to kill innocent people, instead you got a brush to clean toilets. Good lesson for those who support ISIS. I hope this opens eyes for Muslim youngsters.
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Dec 02, 2014 08:05am
Its ironic that even Arab jihadees treat South Asian Muslims as dirt.
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Dec 02, 2014 08:23am
@Masud Awan actually its the NIA which brought him back. When the NIA got to know that he is willing to return, they started plotting and secretly paved his return. Its a brief success story of NIA.
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Dec 02, 2014 08:34am
This man must be kept in solitary confinement. His only regret was that he was not given a chance to kill and behead people and was asked to clear islmic warriors' holy s**t.
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Dec 02, 2014 08:39am
I did not know that in addition to being hatemongering, bloodthirsty killers these IS terrorists are also racist in the way they treat their fellow non-Arab "brethren" who may be shorter than them and have darker skin than theirs.
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Dec 02, 2014 08:42am
@Omar ....We Indians are happy doing menial work in the Middle East. It's far better than getting executed in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking like Pakistanis do.
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Dec 02, 2014 08:42am
My name is Areeb, and I am not a terrorist
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Dec 02, 2014 08:53am
They showed him his worth
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Dec 02, 2014 09:06am
@Omar the guy was offered job in kuwait on 3 lakhs per month.
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Dec 02, 2014 10:15am
Its unbelievable that one is left alive to return home by IS after joining it to give stories to the world. Seems to be Indian intelligence ploy.
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Dec 02, 2014 10:44am
Wondering if he would've agreed to clean public toilets in his home country.
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Dec 02, 2014 11:11am
@Qutub sahab - well said.
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Dec 02, 2014 11:54am
@Jag Nathan
Very well stated! I wish to to re-state two relevant statements:
1) "Indian muslims would live and die for the country" ---- Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I salute the many muslim Indian soldiers who have indeed laid down their lives for the country, mainly in Kashmir.
2) "The Indian Union is much stronger than the sum of its parts. There is an innate Indian-ness among all of its inhabitants." --- Nobel Laureate Sir V S Naipaul.
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Dec 02, 2014 11:59am
Omar sahab, assuming the commonly stated viewpoint to be true that 50% of India's population do not have access to a domestic toilet, there still are some 650 million Indians who have toilets at their homes! Something to think about, everything about India is on a gigantic scale!
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Dec 02, 2014 12:04pm
@Namaste ji, an Indian born person cannot be deprived of his/her citizenship!
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Dec 02, 2014 12:19pm
@Qutub : You are going against I51@m...
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Dec 02, 2014 12:25pm
@Omar .Eternal beggars shouldn't be commenting like this.
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Dec 02, 2014 12:50pm
@Karan How can you be so sure that he did not actually kill people ? Will a killer disclose how many people he has killed ? What about the bullet wound ? definitely not from playing kabaddi. The law should take its course and he should be punished as any other terrorist.
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Dec 02, 2014 01:30pm
@Rainman thanks for this most sensible post. I keep wondering why Pakistanis love Arabs? We really need to wake up and invest in our own country.
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Dec 02, 2014 01:38pm
The kind of individuals that Arif Majeed was, is not a good sign for the society,after returning from Iraq he could not be relied upon.What transpired there could out be found out correctly, and one cannot go as per his version.India have to dig till the roots from where it all began beginning from his indoctrination till he was under NIA custody.
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Dec 02, 2014 02:32pm
Our young lots must be educated about Islamic teaching so that no fundamentalist ideology can detrack them
We should join hands of the world to boycott terrorism in all of its manifestations
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Dec 02, 2014 06:02pm
its better to clean toilet than killing innocent people.
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Dec 02, 2014 06:06pm
@Ahmer - In view of the past behaviour and attitudes of IS, I feel certain that your doubt is correct.
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Dec 03, 2014 04:22am
@Omar
And Pakistanis are imported to run banks and big businesses?
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Dec 03, 2014 05:48am
I have only one word for him..brainwasher looser.
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Dec 03, 2014 05:54am
@Ahmer i m agree with u...keep him in custody..he could start sleeper cell and that will harm the indian subcontinet.
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Dec 03, 2014 06:35am
this is what other nations do. don't put "returnees" to jail. yeah charge them with whatever but get them to share their experience and then let the rest of the world know. this will work as a deterrent to those wannabees..
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Dec 03, 2014 07:53am
Swatch Bharat abhiyan extended to Iraq !
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Dec 03, 2014 09:01am
So how did he get shot whilst cleaning toilets?
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Dec 03, 2014 09:28am
@Karan Since he has experience cleaning toilets, he should be employed in "swachch bharat abhiyaan"
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Dec 03, 2014 11:40am
The ISIS could have utilized the your engineer for what he is rather than make him clean toilets. This speaks of the mindset this criminal gang. Non Arabs are still not welcome and their agenda is to create fear among the peace loving people of the region and push forward with their criminal agenda.
I feel its the beginning of an end for them.
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Dec 03, 2014 11:44am
@Omar: Parents and grandparents of Pakistanis were Indians till the midnight of August 14, 1947. It is amazing how a people can switch identity in a moment, whether it is after conversion to a new religion or session. So, in a way when Indians and Pakistanis abuse each other, they are abusing themselves.
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Dec 03, 2014 11:56am
The NIA arranged his safe passage home. What he probably didn't realize was, rest of his life would be safe in a prison!
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Dec 03, 2014 05:57pm
@Shah 220 million Muslims in India.
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Dec 03, 2014 06:58pm
This story also appeared on Pakistan Tribune website but was taken down within hours and is now not to be found on their site. Kudos to Dawn for keeping this up. The fact that this is the most commented story highlights the fact that it is funny, sad and serious at the same time, just like a good Bollywood film. I am glad it has a happy ending!
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Dec 04, 2014 07:50am
@Karan The fact he did not harm anyone was due to chance circumstances. He wanted to, and would have, if given the opportunity.
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Dec 04, 2014 10:55am
@Gaurav Arya Forgive someone who has been with terrorists ? Oh wait ....he is an Indian ....yeah , let's forgive him in that case.
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Dec 04, 2014 01:49pm
@Gaurav Arya dont b so naive...hw can he be let off...wud u leave a let recruit just cause he becme disllusioned...isnt society at risk from such vulnerable and radicalised individuals..we cant let this disllusioned but strongly impressionable and mindwashed individual to get a job of his wishes...killing individuals at aanother time..by some another grouping
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Dec 04, 2014 04:52pm
I am sorry but that is exactly what people from subcontinent are viewed as in Middle East even though most are far more educated and intelligent. It is just the perception and unfortunately that is what becomes the reality. Wake up!!
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