KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached the Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) for Afghanistan under Kabul’s Interior Ministry to confirm the purported death of the Malayali, who was suspected to have joined the so-called Islamic State(IS)ranks.
Hafeesudheen Theke Koleth, 24, hailing from Padanna in Kasargod, had reportedly been killed in a drone attack in the war-ravaged country’s eastern Nangarhar Province the other day.
According to an NIA official, the National Central Bureau (NCB) under the CBI-- which functions as the Interpol in India-- has been asked to communicate with its counterparts in Afghanistan and confirm the matter.
“Until, we get confirmation via the official channels, we cannot verify his death. Since the police and the security agencies in Afghanistan have little access to the eastern province, particularly in the areas where the IS has a strong presence, the confirmation will take time. Since the government agencies in Afghanistan have not recovered Hafeesudheen’s body, it has not been officially confirmed yet,” he said.
The NIA had approached the Interpol to include 19 persons, including Hafeesudheen in the most wanted list. But the request is only under process now. Once the confirmation about the death of Hafeesudheen is received, the NIA would be filing a report in the respective court in Kochi. Later he would be discharged from the case.
The NIA had found Hafeesudheen, Muhammed Marwan and Muhammed Manzad had boarded a flight from Mumbai to Dubai on June 5, 2016. After reaching the Iranian capital Tehran, the trio made it to the Iran-Afghan border before crossing over into Afghanistan.