KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will approach the Interpol seeking assistance to track down around 10 youths from Kannur who are suspected to have joined the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. The national agency had recently filed an application in the NIA Court seeking issuance of a non-bailable arrest warrant against the missing youths, who have been arraigned in an IS-related case registered at the Valapattanam police station last year.
According to sources, a non-bailable arrest warrant is required as part of approaching the Interpol.
“As per the norms, the court concerned should issue a non-bailable arrest warrant against the accused so that any agency can approach the Interpol with the help of the agencies in Syria. The red-corner notice will put all airports across the globe on alert mode about the accused,” the sources said.
The persons against whom the NIA will seek red-corner notice include Shahanad A V, Abdul Manaf, Shabeer, Suhail, Shafwan, Mohammed Sajil, Mohammed Sameer, Salmanul Daris, Afsal K and Tasleem. There have been reports that a majority of these persons were killed in Syria fighting for the IS. “However, until the NIA gets confirmation regarding the death of these persons from the agencies in Syria, they will continue to remain in the accused list and a red-corner notice pending against them,” sources said.
As of now, the NIA has chargesheeted four accused persons - Midlaj, Abdul Razak, Hamsa U K and Abdul Khayum - in the Valapattanam case, while Rashid, Manauf Rahman and Afsal K had turned approvers.The NIA chargesheet revealed a person named Mohammed Sameer alias Abu Safvan - now believed to have been killed in Syria - was one of the first persons to migrate to Syria with his family members to join the IS.
After the IS took control of territories in Iraq and Syria in 2014, Hamsa convinced Sameer and Abdul Manaf to leave India and join the militant outfit. Sameer left for Saudi Arabia from Mumbai on December 23, 2015, with his wife, daughter and sons Salmanul Faris and Mohammed Safvan.
From there, they moved to Syria. Later, Sameer and Kannur natives Mohammed Sajil, Manaf and Shajahan V K also decided to join IS with their families. They, in turn, influenced fellow Kannur natives Midlaj, Rashid and Afsal K to follow the IS ideology.