In the wake of 21 Malayalis missing from Kerala, the state police have launched an investigation into the missing case of Akhil (Abdulla) who disappeared last year from Malappuram district after converting to Islam.
As per reports, Akhil is a BTech graduate who had converted to Islam and subsequently visited Yemen in May 2014. He later returned to Kochi after a fortnight and flew back to Yemen again next year.
Akhil's father Subrahmanyan told Times of India that his son had expressed interest in embracing Islam after completing his graduation in mechanical engineering from MEA Engineering College at Perinthalmanna.
“He sent his brother an sms that he was leaving for Yemen to pursue Islamic studies on May 10, 2014. One of his friends who was an active worker of a Mujahid splinter group in Perinthalmanna apparently, influenced him,” Subrahmanyan told ToI.
After his initial visit, Akhil returned from Yemen following his mother’s repeated requests, but chose to drop in at night and stayed for not more than five minutes after coming home.
His father is also quoted as saying that Akhil did spent a few more months in Kerala, but did not visit his house during that time.