KANNUR: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Islamic State (IS) links of five people who were arrested last week has released photographs of five others who have gone from Kannur to Syria.
According to the police, Abdul Khayyum, 25, of Chekkikkulam; Abdul Manaf, 30, of Valapattanam; Shabeer, 33, of Mooppanpara; Suhail, 25, of Valapattanam and Safwan, 18, of Pappinisserry have joined the IS and have been actively involved in the fight against non-jihadis in Syria.
The team was able to confirm the role of the five after interrogation of the arrested IS operatives. In Kannur, they were closely associated with the Popular Front of India, the police said. “They contacted their relatives in Kannur and their connection with the terrorist group has been established beyond doubt,” said P P Sadanandan, Kannur deputy superintendent of police.
According to investigating officers, Manaf, Shabeer and Suhail went to Syria with fake passports. All the three have taken their families too with them. Of the five, Safwan is the son of Shameer, who was killed in Syria in the battle, police said.