Kochi cops chase conversion network

Kochi: The cops probing the alleged forcible conversion of a 25-year old woman with the intention of taking her to Syria and join the ISIS are now focusing on the involvement of a “dedicated network”.

“The interrogation of the duo arrested the other day revealed they have a connection with a group of persons based in northern parts of the state who were already under our monitoring for alleged links with the IS. We’ve identified about eight to ten people, mostly from northern Kerala and Kar-nataka, involved in the conversion and we’ll quiz them in coming days,” said a senior officer privy to the probe.

The special squad led by Aluva DySP K.B. Prabhulla Chandran already held one person based on the interrogation of the duo in custody.

They had on Wednesday arrested Fawaz Jamal, 23, and Siyad, 48, for helping the main accused Muhammed Riyas in forcible conversion of the Hindu woman, a native of Pathanamthitta who studied in Bangalore under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Also charged with abduction and rape, they were produced before the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Thursday.

“We’ll submit a detailed report to the court on the progress of the case. We’ll also try to catch the main accused, who is believed to be hiding in Saudi Arabia. At a later stage, we may even take the help of Interpol,” he said.

The victim allegedly met the main suspect in 2014 and had a relationship with him. The latter allegedly forced her to have sex with him and filmed it secretly. He then began to threaten her.

Though her parents took her with them then, he filed a habeas corpus before the High Court. She was left with him, and the two flew to Saudi Arabia.

There he forced her to join a madrasa and allegedly made her watch videos of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. He also allegedly used fake documents to get their marriage registered in May 2016.

As per the victim’s complaint filed with the court, he attempted to take her to Syria to hand her over to ISIS. She then managed to contact her father and with the help of her father’s friend flew back to Kochi and filed a petition. The court directed police to lodge a case, and the North Paravur police registered one after taking her statements.