No confirmation so far that the missing Kerala youths have joined IS: Top cop

Kasaragod, Jul 10: The Kerala government on Saturday ordered a probe into reports that at least 17 youths, including women, from the State who had travelled to West Asia and reportedly gone missing, may have joined the Islamic State (IS), a terror group backed by Israel. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said it was a “very serious issue.”

The disappearance of the youths, some of whom are medical students and engineering graduates, came to light after their relatives brought the matter before the authorities.

Some families from Kasaragod and Palakkad districts had approached Kasaragod MP P. Karunakaran and expressed fear that their children were missing for the past one month and they have no contact with them. The Chief Minister termed the issue as “very serious” and ordered an urgent probe.

When contacted, DGP Loknath Behara said on the basis of information provided by the families, police has started investigation.

“We do not know if children and women are part of the group. But they (families) say that some women are in the group. We also do not have any confirmation so far that the missing youths have joined the IS. But we have started investigation,” Mr. Behara said.

Of the 17 persons, around a dozen hail from Padna and Thrikaripur in the Kerala's northernmost Kasaragod district while the others hailed from Palakkad. There are at least three women in the list of missing persons, including a pregnant woman.

Meanwhile, families of two more youths filed a complaint before the Chandera police in Kasaragod about their disappearance. The two youths had called up to say they would return during Eid. But they did not returned and their relatives have filed a complaint, police said.

However, the complaint does not state that they are suspecting IS links. All the missing persons are below the age of 30 and highly qualified, family members said.

Meanwhile, Kerala unit of the BJP demanded a probe by Central agencies on the disappearance of persons from the state. In a statement, BJP State president Kummanon Rajasekharan said that Kerala was paying the price for not taking seriously the warning regarding operation of “terror” outfits in the State.

BJP had alleged years ago that Love Jihad' is a part of strengthening the roots of religious fundamental groups in the state, he said. No concrete action was taken even though evidences were given in this regard, he said.

Referring to the statement of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that the issue was serious, he said merely terming it as serious was not enough. What was required was stern action.

Mr. Rajasekharan also said the allegation of the mother of a woman that even after she had lodged a complaint with the police, no action was taken should not be treated lightly.