The arrest of highly educated youths in Bangalore signifies a changing trend in terrorism wherein the brand image of terror has undergone a drastic alteration. With the rapidly expanding theatre of violence the southern states particularly Karnataka appear to be new hubs of terror as indicated by attacks on key targets in South India in recent months. In the last two years, many educated professionals have been arrested on the basis of their links with dreaded terror net-works. That in tune with the changing times terror has acquired a new face is shocking enough. Even more shocking is the ease and finesse with which they plan and execute their bloody plans, managing to abscond at the same time.

It is quite disturbing is that a large number of educated youth are falling prey to this sinister Jihad ideology with the result that terror outfits are finding it easy to recruit them in order to keep alive and advance their nefarious agenda. These professional youth appeared to be networking and helping radical groups under the banner of Muslim information Technology professionals Association, which is concentrated in Bangalore with proliferations across the country.

Terrorism has assumed a new dimension with the increasing recruitment of Muslim youth who have swelled the ranks of organization like SIMI as well as other terrorist groups. Increasingly, a dangerous pattern of home grown terrorism is being unveiled which has many cells of educated youth with wide penetrations across India. At one time, poverty and unemployment were cited as probable reasons for Muslim youth to join the Jihad ranks. But now, with the changing face of terror, educated and highly trained professionals are being recruited. With the shift in strategy aimed at looking for new terror destinations in South, the techno Savvy youth are getting ample opportunities by using their technological expertise to send messages, crack Internet Zones or communicate for triggering IEDS while planning a terror attack. All these point to the fact that terror groups are recruiting highly trained professionals which are increasingly using latest technology while plotting terror attacks.

Terrorists driven out of Kashmir found safe havens in various southern cities and towns. Intelli-gence reports indicated that the city was on the terror radar. Investigations revealed that terror outfits were scouting the city for easy availability of chemicals and explosives. In fact one of the arrested terrorists happened to have a degree in analytical chemistry. All this indicates that the city had morphed from being a safe hideout to breeding ground of terror. Terrorists are having a free run because of the laxity in policing and intelligence departments which seem to be looking more after the leaders than then the common man.

The growing support network of terrorists and its proliferation across the country showcases big holes in India’s preparedness to tackle the increasing terror menace. The rapidly spreading theatre of terror is an eye-opener for the Government to swing into action and strike at the root of terrorism. The government and the people have to collectively fight against terrorism.