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BHOPAL, INDIA - NOVEMBER 15: A Muslim kid holds a placard with slogan against the ISIS during a candle light vigil to express solidarity with the victims of Paris terror attacks on November 15, 2015 in Bhopal, India. At least 129 people lost their lives in terror attacks by terrorists in Paris at the packed Bataclan concert hall, restaurants and bars, and outside the Stade de France national stadium. The Islamist jihadist group IS, that has seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attacks. (Photo by Mujeeb Faruqui/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
NEW DELHI -- The number of Indians who have joined the Islamic State now stands at 25, according to the Indian government.
Citing a government official, The Hindu reported that two more men of Indian origin allegedly travelled to Iraq-Syria recently to fight alongside the IS, taking the total number of Indians who have joined to 25.
Till August, the number of Indians in the IS stood at 17. Six of them are reportedly dead.
India does not have a one punishment fits all approach to those who join ISIS, but rather it decides whether to press terrorism charges on a case-to-case basis.
At a meeting to discuss terror financing held recently in Paris, India recommended a “non-discriminatory and undifferentiated action” against all terror groups including the IS, the newspaper reported.
Intelligence agencies are reportedly monitoring social media platforms since the Internet, so far, has been the only mode of recruitment for the IS.
Three Hyderabad-based cousins, who planned to join "jihadi terror groups", were picked from Nagpur international airport while on their way to Srinagar on Saturday. They were allegedly influenced by online ISIS propaganda.
Two of the three young men, who were arrested in Nagpur, were also stopped at the Kolkata airport before they could leave the country, last year, The Hindu reported. The tip off came from their parents on both occasions.
“We have not decided yet whether to slap terror charges against the three. The parents of the two school dropouts had kept a strict surveillance since they came back from Kolkata, and they were not allowed access to mobile phones or the Internet. They were reportedly radicalised by their maternal uncle, who has been the president of the Students Islamic Movement of India, a banned outfit. While they were under watch, they convinced a cousin of theirs to travel to Srinagar where they could meet some Hurriyat leaders to join jihad. They had no idea whether the Hurriyat had any links to the IS at all,” said the officer.
This golden fruit with its glossy, juicy insides deserves the title of 'King fruit' - and this type of mango is the 'King' of mangoes. "Alphonsos are extra-rich with aromatic compounds like mesifuran, (Z)-ocimene and octalactone, which are found in many other fruits like citrus, strawberries, and coconuts, but which come together in the Alphonso to give it a unique flavour," says Kapoor. "The Alphonso was developed by the Portuguese, who perfected mango tree crafting to create new varieties, hence the name." (credit:Cajie/Flickr)
Pekoe Tea(02 of05)
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Native to Assam and Darjeeling, Pekoe tea is as unique to its region as Champagne is to the Champagne region of France. "Light in colour but robust in flavour, Pekoe is considered a black tea but should really be classified as more oolong because of its incomplete oxidation," says Kapoor. He also adds that pekoe helps prevent cavities and is rich in antioxidants, which counter the free radicals in the body that can lead to cancer and premature ageing. (credit:wiccked/Flickr)
Bananas(03 of05)
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"A fact not many know is that bananas are native to India," says Kapoor. Interestingly, another little-known fact is that bananas don't grow on trees. "It’s especially important to eat organic bananas because conventional bananas are often artificially ripened to a “natural” yellow colour with chemical ripening agents like calcium carbide, a known carcinogen," he adds. (credit:IAN RANSLEY DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION/Flickr)
Bhagwa Pomegranate(04 of05)
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These boast juicy seeds that are so soft, they appear almost seedless. "That wonderful texture is matched by a rich taste, and like other pomegranates they are a super fruit, filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals," says Ashmeet Kapoor, founder of I Say Organic."Originally native to Maharashtra, organic farmers love them because they are naturally resistant to common pests and don’t need chemical pesticides," he adds. Another advantage of these pomegranates are that they have tough skins that keep them from bruising, spoiling, or cracking for longer than other types of pomegranate. (credit:coniferconifer/Flickr)
Turmeric(05 of05)
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A member of the ginger family, turmeric is widely recognised by it's rich orange-yellow hue and sharp taste. "Turmeric (or haldi) has been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, and is widely used in Ayurveda as a cure for inflammation," says Kapoor. "Modern studies also show that turmeric has many potential health benefits as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and more." (credit:souvikdg/Flickr)
-- This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which
closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions
or concerns about this article, please contact
indiasupport@huffpost.com.