NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) may probe the recent disappearance of 21 suspected Islamic State sympathisers from Kerala, according to a senior government official. Tasked with combating terror, NIA is the “right agency” to investigate into the matter that has “international ramifications”, a home ministry functionary said. The news of the men, who are allegedly fascinated by IS, and who have left for IS’ heartland in West Asia came out last week after their families in Kasargode and Palakkad approached elected representatives and complained about the “missing” youths. Preliminary inquiries have revealed that one of them, Hafeesuddin Hakeem, contacted his family to say he was at a place where US and Russian jets were dropping bombs.
