Non-Muslim members of the management committee also allegedly radicalised; Cops monitoring the activities of the school; FIR filed for teaching objectionable content as textbooks exhort students to lay down their lives for Islam
KOCHI: The police team investigating the alleged links of Peace International School in Kochi with Islamic State (IS) handlers, has found that six students at the school were radicalised and converted to Islam. According to sources privy to investigation, the school authorities had even radicalised non-Muslim members of the management committee. At present, out of the 300 students, only two are non-Muslims.
“The contents of the textbooks recovered from the school exhort the students to lay down their lives for Islam. A lesson in the textbook meant for Class II students asks a question- What Suzanne and Adam would do for religious conversion? Besides, the book contains many lessons, aimed at radicalising the students. One lesson asks ‘Why Islam wins the battles? The answer is Islam wins the fights because it is a sacrifice for Allah,” said an officer. However the police officers refused to disclose more details about the students and management committee members, who were converted.
A police team led by Kochi Range IG S Sreejith has launched a probe into the syllabus and activities of the school following information that the missing persons from Kerala, who reportedly joined the Islamic State, were linked to the institution.
Earlier, ‘Express’ had reported that the school never taught biology as it teaches about reproduction and sex. According to the officers, notice would be sent to the trustees of the school to appear before the investigation team.
There are 13 schools in the state under the Peace Education Foundation headed by M M Akbar, an Islamic preacher. The police authorities were closely watching the activities of the school as it was found that Abdul Rashid, a Kasargod native, who allegedly recruited the 21 missing persons from the state to IS, was an employee of the school.
Meanwhile, the retired defence personnel in Kerala have decided to launch an awareness programme among children and youngsters to keep them away from anti-nationals. The retired soldiers will form active groups in all districts in the state to conduct awareness programmes against terrorist outfits like LeT, IM, SIMI and IS. The programmes are aimed at sensitising the students on the means followed by these groups to attract them to their fold.