8 Kerala natives part of Islamic State-linked Bahrain Group

The Kerala police have reportedly confirmed the involvement of eight Malayalees in Bahrain Group, a collective formed in the Gulf country to promote Islamic State. 

The police in Wandoor near Malappuram have filed a case against the eight Kerala natives in Bahrain Group on the basis of a statement from a man named UK Hamsa, who was arrested from Valapattanam in Kannur around a week ago for his alleged links to terror outfits.

The Keralites supporting Islamic State had held a meeting at the Al-Ansar centre in Bahrain, according to reports. The police said the group had also conducted training sessions in the Gulf to inculcate the ideology of the ISIS.

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The police said the accused had decided to join the ISIS in Syria and had even come to Kannur to seek advice from Hamsa regarding the same. In light of this, special meetings were held at residences of ISIS supporters in Perinthalmanna and Perumbavoor as directed by Hamsa. 

A case has now been charged under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against Vaniyambalam native Manayil Ashraf Moulavi, Perumbavoor native Safeer, Kondotty native Mansoor, Thamarassery native Shaibu Nihar, Vadakara native Mansoor, Kannur Chalad native Shahanad, Koyilandi native Fajid and Vaniyambalm native Muhaddis.

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Meanwhile, five persons with alleged ISIS connections are in police custody in Kannur. They are being interrogated by RAW, IB and the anti-terrorist wings of both Mumbai and Andhra police. The Karnataka team will arrive in the district soon as part of the investigation.