A man from West Bengal was taken into custody by the Kerala Police from Beypore Port in Kozhikode district after he was found loitering in the port area under suspicious circumstances. During interrogation, investigators discovered that he had allegedly been in constant contact with a Pakistani citizen through phone chats. He is currently being questioned jointly by the Kerala Police and the Indian Coast Guard.
According to sources, the suspect was detained on July 29 after police personnel noticed him behaving suspiciously at the strategically important Beypore Port. When questioned, he claimed that he had come to Kozhikode to work on a fishing boat. However, he was unable to provide basic details, including the name of the fishing vessel on which he was supposedly employed, raising further suspicion.
Police subsequently examined his mobile phone and reportedly found continuous chat exchanges with a Pakistani national. Investigators are also examining conversations related to his claimed place of work and details concerning the fishing boat he said he was associated with.
Further verification of his identity through his Aadhaar card confirmed that he is a resident of West Bengal. Authorities are now probing the nature of his communications with the Pakistani citizen and whether there are any security implications linked to his presence at the port.
The youth reportedly told the police that he runs a YouTube channel and that his interactions with the Pakistani citizen were related to it.
However, investigators are said to be unconvinced by his explanation. Besides the Kerala Police and the Indian Coast Guard, officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) are also questioning him.
Speaking to the media, the Assistant Commissioner of Police said that the suspect’s phone records and digital communications were being examined in detail.
Meanwhile, the BJP and Hindu organisations have repeatedly called for stricter verification and monitoring of migrant labourers entering Kerala for employment, citing security concerns.
They argue that the arrest of several Bangladeshi nationals from different parts of the state in recent months underscores the need for more stringent background checks.
These organisations have also alleged that the Kerala Police have not taken a sufficiently stringent approach towards individuals they suspect of posing national security risks while masquerading as migrant labourers.
The latest development comes weeks after another security-related incident at the strategically important Cochin Shipyard, where an “I Love Pakistan” inscription was discovered etched inside a vessel undergoing maintenance. The discovery triggered an investigation by the Kochi City Police, with central intelligence agencies also joining the probe due to the shipyard’s strategic importance in constructing and maintaining Indian Navy assets, including warships and aircraft carriers. Investigators examined employee access records, biometric logs and other evidence to identify those who had access to the vessel. The incident had raised concerns over security at sensitive maritime installations.
