There were two incidents which clearly showed that the Islamic State was active in Kerala. First one was the missing of 21 youngsters from Kasaragod district, after they allegedly went to Syria to join IS and the second was the arrest of eight persons from Kannur’s Kanakamala, for suspected links with IS.
Now reports say that apart from these two factions, another group is also functioning in Kerala with suspected close links to IS.
The Times of India report says that the group has older people who were radicalised even before the formation of IS.
The report adds that the group has around 10 members, some of whom are over 50 years of age and they are working in Gulf countries.
As per the report, all of them are planning to join IS and one had reportedly tried to reach Syria a few months ago but the attempt was not successful.
The ToI claims that one of the group members has even met the IS spokesperson. The speeches of Anwar al-Awlaki, the controversial American preacher who was killed in a drone attack in 2011 in Yemen, were downloaded and widely circulated among the group, says the report.
The Malayalam translation of a book in Arabic, which is named Vaalinte Thanalil (Under the shadow of a sword) was also circulated, the report says.
ToI also quotes a WhatsApp message which has been spreading. It says, “After the group from Padne left the country, we expected that the nuisance created by the IS would come to an end. But we are aghast to know that more and more youths were walking into the net of the terror organization.”