Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod

Updated

Kasargod, Jul 8: Sixteen persons from Kerala, including six from Kasargod district, are suspected to have left the country and joined the dreaded Islamic State (IS) terror organization.

Among the 16, six are from three families of Kasargod and the rest are from Palakkad district. They include four women, two children, a doctor and an engineer, it is learnt.

There has been no information about the 16 persons from the past one month. However, a few days ago, a relative received a message which gave rise to the suspicion that they may have joined the IS.

As per sources, the message received on mobile phone read, "We have joined IS terror organization. We are offering our lives to god."

Kasaragod zilla panchayat member V P P Mustafa said that during Eid, the parents of two missing youths received 'Whatsapp' messages saying "we are not coming back. Here there is Divine Rule. You aso should join us".

"We have joined IS to fight US for attacking Muslims", read another message, he said adding the veracity of the messages has to be checked.

They missing persons left on a tour to a foreign country in June and their mobile phones have been switched off for a month. It is suspected that they might have gone to Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq.

The persons belonging to Kasargod district are from Trikarpur and Padanna, it is said. A married couple is also understood to be among them.

Thrikarippur MLA M Rajagopalan told PTI that all those missing were below the age of 30 and highly qualified.

Hakim, father of Hafeesuddin who is among those missing from Kasaragod, told television channels that his son had left a month ago and there was no news from him.

"If he returns as a good man, I will welcome him. If not, I do not want to see even his dead body," he said.

Mustafa said among the missing were Dr Ijas and his dentist wife. They had left home saying they were going to Lakshadweep, he told PTI.

Abdul Rasheed, an engineering graduate, had left home with his wife and a two-year old daughter, stating that they were going to Mumbai for a job. All the youths hail from middle class families and had been showing keen interest in religious matters since the last two years, Mustafa said.

Appeal to chief minister

With 16 persons from different families missing from a month, people's representatives from Kasargod led by zilla panchayat member V P P Mustafa met Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and urged for a probe.

Meanwhile, sources said that Kasargod MP P Karunakaran has brought the matter to the attention of the centre and NIA has begun investigation.

"The chief minister has asked police to launch a probe into the matter urgently," Karunakaran said.

With PTI Inputs