One Kalyan youth may still be in IS custody: MHA

One of the three associates of Areeb Majeed, who joined the IS and then came back after spending six months with them, may be in detention of the terror outfit, Union home ministry sources said.

One of the three associates of Areeb Majeed, who joined the IS and then came back after spending six months with them, may be in detention of the terror outfit, Union home ministry sources said.

Areeb Majeed along with his three friends, Shaheen Tanki, Fahad Sheikh and Aman Tandel, all from Maharashtra’s Kalyan town — went to Iraq in May on the pretext of a pilgrimage but all four disappeared midway to join the IS. After spending six months in the IS and allegedly taking part in active combat there, Majeed was brought to India on November 28 but his three friends are still in the IS controlled area covering parts of Iraq and Syria.

“We have got unverified reports that suggest that one of three Kalyan youths may be in the custody of the IS as he was trying to leave them. The identity of the youth is also not clear. There have been reports that the IS executes those who try to defect but we are yet to verify the report,” said a Union home ministry official requesting anonymity.

According to sources, so far Areeb Majeed, in his interrogation, claimed that he was allowed to leave by the IS authorities and in fact he was given US $2000 as well.