A WhatsApp group with multiple Pakistani phone numbers was found on the mobile phone of an Assam native, Mubarak Hussain, currently residing in Ponjassery near Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The suspicious group came to light when Mubarak approached the Perumbavoor police with a complaint in an unrelated case.
Mubarak Hussain, a migrant labourer living in a rented house in Ponjassery, arrived at the local police station alleging that a five-member gang had robbed him of Rs 37,000. However, due to suspicious behaviour and inconsistencies in his statements, the police conducted a deeper investigation. It was subsequently revealed that the money had not been stolen but lost in a card game involving a group allegedly led by Mubarak himself.
Following this revelation, the police arrested five individuals in connection with the card game: Rinshad and Salam, both residents of Ponjassery; Basil and Salahuddin, natives of Valiyakulam; and Anu from Chelakkulam.
During the course of the investigation, police examined Mubarak’s mobile phone and discovered a WhatsApp group that included 32 Pakistani phone numbers. This raised serious concerns, prompting a detailed inquiry by Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials. Ernakulam district holds strategic importance due to key installations such as the Cochin Shipyard, Naval Base, and port facilities. The presence of such critical infrastructure has made the region sensitive from a national security perspective.
According to preliminary findings, the WhatsApp group, created two months ago, was being used to share pornographic content. The group’s admin was operating from a Pakistani phone number. Given the group’s timing and origin, it gained significance in light of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the ongoing probe following Operation Sindoor, in which several individuals were arrested for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistan.
Further investigation revealed that the group was being used to circulate nude images and videos of minor children. A case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against Mubarak for possessing such illegal material. Charges were also filed under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.
Mubarak Hussain was produced in court and has been remanded to judicial custody. He is currently being interrogated by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Intelligence Bureau to ascertain any possible links with foreign operatives and to understand the full extent of his involvement in the WhatsApp group.
Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district has long been recognised as a major hub for migrant workers, attracting a large workforce from states like Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar. Over the years, concerns have been raised about the presence of undocumented migrants, including individuals from Bangladesh, residing in the area without valid documents. Several operations by both central and state agencies have led to the arrest of individuals with suspected links to terror networks, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to being used as a safe haven by those involved in unlawful or anti-national activities.
