Kerala govt launches probe into reports of missing Muslim youths

Kerala government announced on Saturday a probe after 15 Kerala youths, who had travelled to Middle East, reportedly went missing and were suspected to have joined the Islamic State.

Kerala government announced on Saturday a probe after 15 Kera youths, who had travelled to Middle East, reportedly went missing and were suspected to have joined the Islamic State (IS),with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan saying it was a “very serious issue”.

Kerala government announced on Saturday a probe after 15 Kera youths, who had travelled to Middle East, reportedly went missing and were suspected to have joined the Islamic State (Reuters File Photo)

The families of the youths, including a couple, from Kasaragod and Palakkad districts have not heard from them for the past one month and fear that they have been radicalised after having gone to the Middle East for religious studies.

The missing persons are below the age of 30 and highly qualified, including medicos.

The matter came to fore with the families of the youths approaching local leaders, including an MP, after suspicion that they may have joined the IS.

While 11 youths hail from Padna and Thrikaripur in the northernmost Kasaragod district, others are from Palakkad district.

“A detailed probe would be conducted into the issue. “If they are trapped in their (IS) net and reached in (their territory), it would be a very difficult issue. A detailed probe would be conducted on this issue,” revenue minister E Chandrasekharan told reporters.

“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. On being approached by the families on Saturday, Karunakaran, Thrikarippur MLA M Rajagopalan and Mustafa informed the chief minister about the matter.