Thiruvananthapuram: The Popular Front of India (PFI) has expressed shock over reports that some of its former members in Kerala have joined the Islamic State.

"We are shocked to read news reports that a handful of our ex‐members in some parts of Kerala established links with ISIS. Though their number is not very significant this has happened in violation of our organisational education and is a matter of serious concern for us," says an internal circular distributed among PFI members.

The circular, issued by PFI chairman E Aboobacker, states that PFI had identified the dangers of ISIS in the early stage itself and had issued warning to their members as early as 2014.

The circular was issued after reports that at least 13 former PFI members, including a divisional convener are suspected to have joined ISIS or accepted their ideology. There were also reports that three PFI members died in Syria and Afghanistan after fighting for the ISIS.

"We have been educating our members and the masses about the anti‐religious and anti‐national nature of ISIS. We also warned them of possible attempts of ISIS recruitment on various occasions, alerting the members to be cautious about getting trapped into it," read the circular.

The message from the PFI chairman also says, "As Indian Muslims we don't have to establish connection with groups in other parts of the world as part of fulfilling our Islamic responsibility. We have enough problems here as Muslims and we have enough space here to effectively intervene in them."

The instructions given to PFI members include being extremely cautious about mysterious groups, their indoctrination efforts and taking precaution while being on social media. They have been told not to comment or share "objectionable posts".