KOCHI: The police team probing the alleged links of Malayalis with terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) has commenced interrogation of the two suspects arrested from Mumbai in a joint operation with the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS). Islamic preacher Arshi Qureshi and Rizwan Khan, who were brought to Kochi by flight on Sunday, are being interrogated at the AR Camp at Kalamassery. They will be produced before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Monday.
According to the police, the duo was arrested based on a complaint filed by Ebin Jacob, brother of Merin Jacob alias Mariam who along with her husband Bestin Vincent alias Yahya went missing from Kochi a few months ago, and allegedly joined the IS.
Earlier, the Kerala Police and the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) had unveiled involvement of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an organisation promoted by Mumbai-based preacher Zakir Naik, in the missing of 21 Keralites who are believed to have left for Syria to join the IS. Rizwan was arrested on Saturday from his residence at Kalyan in the Thane district. The Mumbai operation of the Kerala Police was led by Aluva DySP Y R Rustom.
Meanwhile, top officials in the inquiry team refused to divulge additional information, citing the ongoing interrogation. Arshi, a preacher associated with the IRF, was arrested in Mumbai on July 22. Rizwan is learnt to have been operating jointly with Arshi. It it alleged that the accused along with others, including Yahya and Mariam, prepared a master-plan to carry out terrorist activities in various parts of the country. Merin aka Mariam got acquainted with Yahya while she was working in Mumbai. Later, she married Yahya and got converted into Islam. She reportedly embraced Islam at the behest of Arshi, who is suspected to have converted hundreds of people into Islam.