Kozhikode: Kerala may be becoming a fertile ground for recruitment to the terror organisation, ISIS. After being tipped-off by the UAE police about a Malayali youth, Riyabul Rehman, who is suspected to be in Syria, the Karipur police on Wednesday registered an FIR against him for his role in the recruitment of youth for the ISIS through the social media. Riyabul Rehman, a native of Kundungal in Kozhikode, had gone missing from Ras-al-Khaimah some time ago.
Karipur Sub-Inspector K. Sreekumar suo motu registered the FIR and started an investigation. Sources told DC that the Intelligence Bureau and Internal Security agencies, who had detained and questioned Kozhikode native Riyas Ali, 40, and Malappuram native Salim, 28, at Kozhikdoe International Airport, due to their suspected terror links had passed on some crucial information to the Karipur police.
The police have included section 125 IPC (whoever wages war against the government of any Asiatic power in alliance or at peace with the (Government of India) or attempts to wage such war, or abets the waging of such war) among other sections.
Intelligence Bureau sources told DC that ISIS propaganda leaders were targeting Islamic youths, mainly from places like Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kasargod, to join their forces by establishing online contacts.
“They are offered highly-paid jobs abroad, financial help to start business and also leadership positions in their organisational set-up,” an official said.
“They also target youths, who are born to rich parents but have a criminal mindset and want to enjoy the fruits of power and terror,” the official added. The IB had picked up a youth from BP Angadi in Tirur recently. The latest action was against two youths at Kozhikode International Airport and two others at Thiruvananthapuram. The youths held at Thiruvananthapuram were let off after questioning. However, the case of those held at Kozhikode is still kept under the wrap. “A good number of youths in Malabar are engaged in hawala transactions. When a package is offered with money and absolute power apart from glory in the name of religion, they easily fall for it,” the official said.
