Relatives of fifteen missing Muslim youths from Kerala fear that they might have joined Islamic terrorist band and are fighting holy war either in Iraq or Syria.



The youths belonged to the villages of Padanna and Thrikkaripur in Kasargod district of Kerala. Kasargod borders with Karnataka and has a sizeable Muslim population.

Salam, a relative of Hassisudin who is missing since May 28 last told India Today that he along with other missing boys seem to have reached the conflict zones controlled by Islamic state.

"I'm worried about them. Several people including two families from our village went missing since first week of June. One of their friends received a whatsapp message telling that they have reached their destination describing about Islamic state," Salam told India Today.

"Among the missing persons, one doctor, his dentist wife and one child are listed," he added.

According to him, all of them are under 30 including two pregnant women.

THE OUTCRY

The relatives had lodged complaints with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today. The chief minister had directed the police to verify details and alert the central police agencies.



According to the complaint, most of boys are deeply religious college students. The relatives also said that they were not aware about their activities atall.

"We are worried about their lives and we have no idea how to save them," said Salam.

In 2015, a journalist working in a radical newspaper in Kerala joined IS force and motivated several others to join the band.

The intelligence agencies have warned the government that IS attracting large number of youths from the state and several Islamic outfits are recruiting the Muslim youths to wage "holy war".

Police suspects that many others from Kozhikode, Malappuram and Palakad had joined the IS force from Kerala.

