THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the posting of Industries Minister E P Jayarajan’s nephew the managing director of a state-run PSU courting controversy, the government hurriedly cancelled the appointment. The appointment of P K Sudheer, son of CPM MP P K Sreemathy and nephew of E P Jayarajan, as the managing director of Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE) had kicked up a row in the state.
On Thursday morning E P Jayarajan justified the appointment in Palakkad, saying his relatives worked in several positions. Jayarajan added that till now he had not received any complaints on the appointment. If anything was received it would be looked into.
Later, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in Kozhikode that he was not aware of the appointment of P K Sudheer as KSIE MD. He added that usually qualified people were appointed to such posts.
Later in the evening, the office of the industries minister informed that the appointment had been cancelled. “P K Sudheer, who was currently CEO with another organisation, had applied for the post, and based on his qualifications he was appointed. However he submitted a letter to the minister’s private secretary seeking more time to join, which was turned down. And orders were issued to cancel the appointment on October 3,” said the official communique.
IS link
According to NIA officials, they received information about Subahani while interrogating the six suspected IS operatives arrested from Kannur and Kasargod recently. Subahani’s handlers is Syria had been using him to form IS modules by motivating youngsters and arranging explosives, arms and ammunition for terrorist activities. “We carried out a search at the residence of the accused on Monday. During interrogation, his connection with the IS was revealed. He is the second IS man arrested who had returned to India from Syria/Iraq after fighting for the IS in those countries. The arrest of Subahani is very crucial in unfolding the IS operations in South India. He can lead us to IS operatives who are currently abroad and handling operations through recruits here,” said NIA officials.
Indoctrination
NIA officials said Subahani was lured by the online videos and literature of the IS. He contacted the IS leaders through Facebook and Twitter in 2014. His family members, hailing from Tamil Nadu, are settled in Thodupuzha and doing textile business here. Subahani, a BCom dropout, decided to join IS to lead a life according to the Sharia law. As directed by his handlers, he secured a visiting visa to Turkey, and informed his parents and wife that he was going for Umrah pilgrimage.
The Journey: Chennai-Dubai-turkey
On April 8, 2015, he left for Turkey from Chennai via Dubai. After reaching Turkey, Subahani was joined by IS recruits from Pakistan and Afghanistan. They were later taken to Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq captured by the IS, where he was given accommodation and other facilities. Soon after reaching Mosul, he underwent training for two months to handle Multiple Grenade Launcher, Multi-Barrel Heavy Machine Gun and AK-47 for two months.
Fighting on front line
Later, he was sent to the front line to fight Kurd forces and Iraqi military who attempted to recapture Mosul. He was paid US$60 as monthly wage for his services. He fought for the IS for around two weeks, but decided to retract after witnessing the death of his two batch-mates in the battle in the outskirts of Mosul in June 2016.
Retraction & Torture
However, when Subahani informed his retraction plans to his handlers, they put him in jail and subjected to torture. Later, he was produced before the IS judge in Mosul, who ordered further imprisonment. Then, he was taken to Raqqa in Syria, the de facto capital of IS, and he remained in jail for 55 days in Syria and Iraq. However, the IS leaders agreed to to free him on condition that he would work as a ‘lone wolf’ helping them to set up IS modules in India.
Homecoming
After he was set free, Subahani reached Turkey and approached the Indian embassy to facilitate his return to India. He told them that he had lost his passport while touring the holy places. On September 22, 2015, he reached Mumbai with money sent by family members and emergency certificate issued by Indian Consulate.