Ten from Kannur feared to have fled country to join ISIS

Mangalore Today News Network

Kerala, Dec 14, 2018 : Kerala police on Thursday confirmed that 10 people from the state joined the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan. According to a report in Mathrubhumi, the individuals, belonging to state’s Kannur district, consisted of two families from Azhikode and Poothappara and a man from Kuruva.

 

Citing Kerala Police sources, Times Now channel reported that the 10 people left to join the Islamic State in Afghanistan and Syria. According to the Mathrubhumi report, the individuals left Kerala on November 20 saying that they were going to Mysuru in Karnataka. When the family did not return, the police carried out search operations. Reports cited that the 10 persons — K Sajjad, his wife and two children, Anwar, his wife and three children and one TP Nissam — reached UAE and went missing from there. The police suspect that they may have reached Afghanistan, given that IS centres in Syria have been destroyed, Mathrubhumi reported said.

​The members have prior links with IS, as Anwar’s wife Afseela, is the sister-in-law of Shameer, who was killed along with two of his sons Salman and Safwan after having joined the IS. This is not the first time people from Kerala have joined the IS. Turkey police had arrested 35 people - including 13 children from Kannur for attempting to join the terror outfit. It is believed that the death of their relatives could have compelled the group to join the Islamic State. A further probe is underway and is being carried out by DySP P Sadanandan - the report said.