National Investigation Agency, cops scan rural Kozhikode

Kozhikode: The arrests of two persons from Kuttiadi, Kozhikode, by the National Investigation Agency on Sunday over suspected links to ISIS, have led to combing operations in the area, revolving around persons visiting them and their relatives. The agency is scanning the area with the support of Kerala police. Jasim N.K. (25), son of Abdulla, Nangeelam Kandy and Ramshad (24), son of Abdulla, Nangeelam Kandy are the arrested ones from Kuttiadi. The agency looks into whether more people are missing from the area, attracted by the ideologies of the Islamic State and extremism.

Locals say the visitors to these youngsters included preachers who spread extreme beliefs and extremist religious teachers. Mr Ramshad had shown more interest in the extremist ideologies after his studies in Coimbatore, and they point at his typical way of growing beard also, following this. He also used to keep a distance from friends he had back home before going for higher studies.

Meanwhile, Yuva Morcha state president Prakash Babu said the CPM’s soft approach towards the extremist elements were instrumental in the growth of ISIS. “More terrorist activities are taking place in the strongholds of the CPM. These terrorist organisations are gaining momentum during the LDF rule,” he said.