New Delhi: At least 17 youths from Kerala, who had travelled to the Middle East, have gone missing for the last one month and their families suspect they might have joined terror group Islamic State.
The disappearance of the youths, some of whom are medicos and engineering graduates, came in light after their family members brought the matter before the authorities. The families of the youths, including a couple, are believed to be from Kasaragod and Palakkad districts.
Kasaragod District Panchayat member VPP Mustafa said that during Eid, the parents of two missing youth received 'WhatsApp' messages saying "we are not coming back. Here there is Divine Rule. You aso should join us".
"We have joined ISIS to fight US for attacking Muslims," read another message, he said adding the veracity of the messages has to be checked.
On being approached by the families, Karunakaran, Thrikarippur MLA M Rajagopalan and Mustafa informed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan about the matter.
Rajagopal said that all those missing were below the age of 30 and highly qualified, adding that the state government has ordered the police to launch a probe into the matter urgently.
"The Chief Minister has asked police to launch a probe into the matter urgently," Karunakaran said.
He said the family members of the missing youth met him recently and brought the matter to his notice.
Hakim, father of Hafesuddin who is among those missing from Kasaragod, told television channels that his son had left a month ago and there was no news from him.
"If he returns as a good man, I will welcome him. If not, I do not want to see even his dead body," he said.
Karunakaran said the family members told him that the youth had left for Middle East a month ago stating that they were going for religious studies. But for the last one month, their families had no communication from them and so they were suspicious, he said.
The youth hail from Padna and Thrikaripur in Kasaragod district and Palakkad district. While 11 hail from Padna and Thrikaripur in the northernmost Kasaragod district of Kerala, others are from Palakkad district.
Mustafa said among the missing were Dr Ijas and his dentist wife. They had left home saying they were going to Lakshadweep, he said.
Abdul Rasheed, an engineering graduate, had left home with his wife and a two-year old daughter, stating that they were going to Mumbai for a job.
All the youth hail from middle class families and had been showing keen interest in religious matters since the last two years, Mustafa said.
Meanwhile, the mother of a young woman who is among 17 people suspected to have joined ISIS, on Sunday met Chief Minister and sought help.
"Chief Minister told me that probe in the matter is progressing," said Bindu, the mother of 25-year-old Nimisha who is missing since May.
Bindu said her pregnant daughter visited her on May 16 along with her husband. Two days later, she received a call from Nimisha who said she was going to Sri Lanka for business.
"She did not reveal where she was calling from even though I asked her repeatedly. I tried to prevent her from proceeding, but failed," Bindu said.
Nimisha was a final year Dentistry student in Kasaragod when she got married to a Christian man in November 2015. The couple later converted to Islam, the mother said.
Bindu said her family did not know much about met Nimisha's husband except that he was 32 years old and an MBA. Five other families in Kasargod have also filed complaints about missing members and have sought investigation.
"It cannot be said that all missing persons have joined ISIS," said Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, also the Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly.
"What I came to know is that the state and Centre agencies have started an investigation on the matter," he added.
