In a alarming revelation that points to the increasing influence of terror groups in radicalising even well-educated youth, investigations have found that Shajeer Managalasseri Abdulla, who is suspected to be the kingpin of the Islamic State (IS) module in Kerala, is a graduate from National Institute of Technology – Calicut (NITC) who had landed a decent job in UAE.
According to a Times of India report, Shajeer, an expert in information technology, completed his BTech in civil engineering in 2002 and left for UAE in 2004 after he got a job there.
Shajeer’s first passport was issued in September, 2004, from the passport office in Kozhikode, which was renewed in November, 2014.
According to Shajeer’s relatives and neighbours, he was a brilliant student. Born in 1981, Shajeer hails from a middle class family and has two sisters and a brother. His father passed away 10 years ago.
“He went to school at Sulthan Batheri in Wayanad where his father was a driver with the KSRTC. His family shifted to Moozhikkal near Kozhikode after he got admission at the NITC,” one of his relatives was quoted by Times of India as quoting.
Shajeer’s family was shocked when they came to know that he has joined the terror outfit. They were apprised of the developments when police visited their house at Moozhikkal three days ago.
Neighbours also said that Shajeer was an introvert and didn’t migle with anyone.
“I remember seeing him once two years ago when he came home on leave. I don't remember talking to him though his house is just two hundred metres away from mine,” said a neighbour.
On the other hand, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that has been probing the IS-related cases believes that Shajeer is the leader of the recently busted IS-module in Kerala and has strong links with the leaders of the terror outfit in Afghanistan.
The NIA claimed that Shajeer was in touch with the IS sleuths in Afghanistan through the Telegram app and was regularly posting Malayalam propaganda material on Facebook via an account with profile name Sameer Ali.
Although Shajeer was a supporter of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) before joining the Islamic State, he was never spotted at any event organised by the party.
