The Delhi bomb blast case has exposed a
terrifying and new dimension of modern terrorism—that is, White-Collar Jihad.
Following the arrest of doctors associated with Al-Falah University in
Faridabad, a massive 2,900 kg of explosives were seized. This incident clearly
indicates that the nature of terrorism is rapidly changing. Moving beyond
traditional terrorism, the involvement of highly educated, professional, and
seemingly well-cultured individuals is increasing—they are not just followers
of radical ideology, but are also playing significant roles in planning,
financial management, and execution.
The Growing
Trend of Educated Terrorists
So far, the names of seven doctors have
surfaced in the Delhi case. The main accused, Dr. Umar un Nabi, was driving the
explosives-laden vehicle on the day of the blast. Six doctors have been
arrested, and one is still absconding. The investigation revealed that all of
them had direct links to the Pakistan-sponsored organization, Jaish-e-Mohammed.
This incident is not an isolated one. For the
past few years, the seeds of radicalization have been deeply rooted within the
educated class. This jihadi module was exposed in Faridabad just one day before
the blast near the Lal Quila Metro Station.
Today, terrorist organizations are not relying
on traditional religious education but are instead targeting engineers,
doctors, IT experts, communication specialists, and university researchers.
Their technical knowledge, financial capability, and networking skills make
terrorism far more dangerous.
Historical
Examples: The Consistent Tradition of White-Collar Jihad
White-Collar Jihad is not new. Several past
incidents confirm this.
- 1.
1993 Mumbai Bomb Blasts Case: An MBBS doctor from Sion Medical College
came into contact with ‘Abdul Karim Tunda’ and became active in radical
activities. Leveraging his medical knowledge, he became an expert in
making sophisticated IEDs.
- 2.
2018: Kashmir University PhD Scholar: A
professor with a PhD in Sociology quit teaching to join Hizbul Mujahideen
and was killed in an encounter within two days.
- 3.
October 2023: Highly Educated ISIS Module: An
NIT Mining Engineer, an AMU graduate, and a computer engineer from
Ghaziabad were arrested on charges of running an ISIS module. They used
their educational knowledge to prepare explosives.
- 4.
October 2025: Al-Qaeda Module in Pune: A
software engineer was arrested; he was linked to an Al-Qaeda cell and was
spreading online radicalism. He used his IT skills to build a secret
digital network.
All these examples prove that radicalization
is linked not to education but to ideology.
White-Collar
Jihad: A Triple Threat to Society, Education System, and Security
White-Collar Jihad is not just a problem for
security agencies; it is an attack on the intellectual fabric of society,
educational institutions, and the intellectual ecosystem. Countering this form
of terrorism requires not just weapons, but intellectual, technical, and
moral preparedness.
The Need
for a Long-Term Strategy
In this context, some crucial measures are
necessary:
- 1.
Enhancing Security and Intelligence Surveillance in Universities:
Instead of relying on general staff as Security Officers, appointing
experienced intelligence experts is necessary.
- 2.
Identifying and Destroying Sources of Radical Propaganda:
Robust cyber-intelligence is essential to manage online radicalism,
social media networks, and encrypted communication.
- 3.
Community-Level Awareness and Responsibility: The
Muslim community and its leadership need to take an active role in
preventing the brainwashing of youth.
- 4.
Halting Ideology-Based Intervention in Educational Institutions: Some
institutions have become centers of radicalization. Their audit,
monitoring, and reform are mandatory.
- 5.
Rehabilitation and De-radicalization Programs:
Formulating a national policy for scientific, psychological, and
community-based rehabilitation.
Education
is not a Cure for Radicalism—Those with an Ideological Affliction Go Anywhere
In the context of Jihadi Islam, education does
not reduce radicalization. Some individuals come into contact with religiously
radical groups, and their brainwashing occurs within that very environment.
Consequently, highly educated individuals also become extremists.
Conclusion
White-Collar Jihad is becoming the biggest and
most complex threat to India's internal security. It symbolizes a new phase of
terrorism—where the enemy is not a gunman, but an educated ‘jihadi’ holding a laptop,
a stethoscope, an engineering degree, or research papers.
To counter this new challenge, India requires
a combined response from society, the state, and the security establishment.
The battle of White-Collar Jihad is a battle of ideology—and winning it
requires awareness, intellectual vigilance, and national unity.
No comments:
Post a Comment