As many as 16 missing people from Kerala, including a Hindu and a Christian girl (both converted to Islam), are believed to have joined the Islamic State (ISIS)
T Satisan
Since Organiser published “Al-Qaeda Recruits Youth From Kerala” last week, July 9 onwards, the newspapers and TV news and debates have been dominated by the stories of sixteen missing people who have reportedly joined ISIS. Among those who disappeared mysteriously from Kasaragod and Palakkad districts, some are married couple; even two years old children in the list; also pregnant girl. Central agencies like Raw and IB are enquiring into the shocking news. The officers of the agencies are reported to have already visited Kasaragod and collected information from the family members of the missing ones. There are reports that IS recruitments take place in Thrikkarippoor of Kasaragod. Central agencies had confirmed very much earlier the IS link with Kerala. Four Kerala youths had been killed in an encounter with Bharatiya security forces in Kupwara about a decade ago. The banned outfits like SIMI and several other extremist groups still operate in Kerala. It is under their influence that both young boys and girls entered IS and other terror groups. BJP and other nationalist organisations have been complaining for nearly a decade that ‘Love Jihad’ plays a significant role in converting Hindu girls into Islam and then leading them to terror groups.
Special Branch of Kerala Police had, years back, observed that some religious fundamentalist outfits have been trying to upset the demographic balance of Kerala. Former Intelligence ADGP TP Senkumar submitted a report to both Union Government and State Government a few years back. At that time regimes of UPA and LDF were in power in centre and state respectively. Both regimes swept it under the carpet. The LDF government of those days allegedly asked its solicitor to present affidavit before the high court stating that there was no Love Jihad in Kerala.
The knowledgeable sources believe that 12 missing people from Kasaragod and 4 from Palakkad might have reached the IS camps in Syria or Afghanistan. Five of them are reported to have reached the camps with their families. There were no clue of the missing people; but last week the family members back home received messaged from the missing ones. And, they immediately submitted their complaints before the Chief Minister. Dr. Ijas, his wife Refila, their two year old baby, Ijas’s younger brother and engineering graduate Shihas, his wife Ajmala, Abdul Rashid Abdulla, his wife Aisha, their two year old baby, Hafeesudheen, Marvan Ismail, Ashfaq Majid and Firos are the missing people from Kasaragod. Isa and his wife Nimisha (Fathima), Isa’s brother Yahya and his wife Mariyam are the missing persons from Palakkad. Both Nimisha and Maria are married to brothers Isa and Yahya respectively. Maria, formerly Mereen), was a Christian girl from Kochi. Both Isa and Yahya are reported to be Christians converted to Islam. Maria’s mother told reporters that her daughter and Yahya were classmates since their Plus Two days. When she went to Mumbai for work Yahya converted her into Islam and went for registered marriage.
Nimisha studied in Century Dental College in Poyinachi, Kasaragod. It is reported that the college belongs to the close relative of a senior Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader. Recently college was in news, but not for good reasons. There were allegations that there are more Muslim management colleges in the district who influence Hindu girls for utilising them for anti-national activities. Attempts are reported from Kasaragod for unleashing communal riots in Kasaragod. Since IUML calls the shot, there are allegations that police does not take actions properly and even ignore the investigation agency reports. Nimisha got converted into Islam while studying in the Century Dental College and renamed Fathima. Now, Fathima and her husband Isa are missing! ABVP workers staged protest march to the Dental College alleging its hands in conversion and IS recruitments.
Nimisha’s mother Bindu says, her daughter’s conversion was a premeditated scheme. She had objected to her daughter’s registered marriage. But, since Nimisha had completed 18, the rules were in her favour. Now, Bindu wonders if there is any chance to change this rule. She asked this question to O Rajagopal, MLA when he visited her. When Bindu complained to the Principal about the indiscipline in the College, he scolded her; he said Nimisha is a lone complainant. Bindu says, Nimisha sent her a voice message on July 4. It said, she was okay. She did not know where she was. She said, she was availing free WiFi system to call. She added that her delivery was due next month. She says, she had met ADGP B. Sandhya and lodged the complaint when she came to know that Nimisha was in an unknown place, but no action was taken.
When the Kasaragod people went missing, it is their relatives that complained to the police who they suspected, their people might have joined IS. Hakim told the media that his son Hafeesudheen sent him a message saying they had reached the Islamic State. The message was sent from Afghanistan and it said, it was the path to heaven! Some people left home saying that they were going to Sri Lanka for Quranic studies.
Meanwhile police got complaint that two youths of Padanna, the place of the missing Kasaragod people, have not reached home after leaving Dubai for home last month. It is to be noted that Love Jihad and related campaigns aim at the increase of Muslim population. The cell for conversion is alleged to be active in Thiruvananthapuram University College, supposed to be dominated by the left student movements.
One report from Kasaragod suggests that one of the missing men sent a Whatsapp message to his wife saying that he had reached heaven from hell. America kills the innocent people; he has dedicated himself for IS. He asks her to convince her parents and bring them to IS.
O Rajagopal MLA told the reporters that BJP had been complaining against Love Jihad since long, but all were ignored on the pretext of communalism. He demanded a comprehensive inquiry into Love Jihad. This sort of activities are taking place in schools and colleges. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said that Kerala is giving the price for ignoring the warning against fundamentalism. BJP had, several years before, alleged that state was infested with the extremist activities and Love Jihad was part of it. BJP and VHP had submitted enough evidence for the allegation. But, they were isolated; communalism was the allegation! ISS started Islamic extremism in Kerala. Abdul Nasr Madani recruited hundreds of youths into it. When it was banned in came back under a new banner, PDP. Then political parties in Kerala hurried up to join hands with it. The missing Thiruvananthapuram girl’s mother complains about the inaction despite lodging complaint about her missing daughter to DGP and ADGP.
Even though most of the population keep mum due to fear or even the influence of pseudo secularism, it is a well known fact that the Love Jihad is a support to fundamentalism and recruitment to IS and Al-Qaeda. Last year when Anuja of Ernakulam Maharaja’s College met with a tragic death, whether murder or suicide is still unknown, no political or social organisations other than Sangh parivar organisations, came out to demand enquiry by a central agency. Around 8,000 Love Jihad cases have been registered with Hindu Helpline since 2009. Studious but introvert girls always fall easily prey to Love Jihad. Several fake Facebook Groups and IDs are deployed for this. Professional educational institutions are widely targeted. It is still not known whether the couple lives together after the Love Jihad wedding most. It is high time central agencies started their enquiries. n
