Indian-origin jihadi who 'never saw himself as western or Indian but Muslim' killed in Syria

Damascus: Abu Baseer al Hindi, a British fighter of Indian origin, has died in the Syrian battleground.

Abu Baseer was affiliated with al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate al-Nusra Front in Syria.

His death was announced by al Qaeda-linked Twitter accounts and online jihadi groups on Tuesday, The Indian Express reported.

The online accounts stated that Abu Baseer attained 'martyrdom' while battling with Syrian government forces in western Syria’s Latakia, on the border with Turkey.

Online groups associated with al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) also posted photos of the Indian-origin British fighter and described him as an “Indian brother”.

In the photos published online, Abu Baseer is seen with his face covered. Some videos of him were also posted online.

“What a Victory ya Abu Baseer… Indian brother got martyred fighting Russians, Iranian & Bashar forces in Syria…May Allah accept him,” said one post.

Meanwhile, DNA quoted Amarnath Amarsingham, a postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University, Canada as saying that he had been in touch with Abu Baseer.

According to Amarsingham, Abu Baseer had told him once that while he was born in the UK, he was of Indian origin.

“I never saw myself as western or Indian. But a Muslim through and through,’’ he had said.

In one of the videos posted online, Abu Baseer is heard saying that he was honoured to be in Syria to “defend Muslim blood”.