KOCHI: The Kerala Police on Tuesday registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against another eight young men, including three suspected to have been killed in Syria, from four districts of the state for their alleged links with the Islamic State (IS). Wandoor Police in Malappuram district registered a case under Sections 38 and 39 of UAPA on the basis of a statement made by U K Hamza alias Biriyani Hamza, to Kannur Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dysp) P P Sadanandan. Hamza, a native of Thalassery, was arrested for his ‘Bahrain Module ‘ links with IS.
The arrested, all under the age of 38, are Shybu Nihar Thamarassery, Manzoor of Vadakara and Fajid of Koyilandy in Kozhikode district; Manzoor of Kondotty, Ashraf Maulavi and Mukhadish of Vaniyambalam in Malappuram district Safeer of Perumbavoor in Kochi and Shehnad of Kannur,According to the police, most of them followed hardline religious ideology close to that of IS from 2008. The police team led by the Kannur DySP had arrested five persons, including Hamza and three youths, on October 25 and 26 for their suspected links with the IS.
Hamza with no formal education, is well-versed in the Islamic scripture, including the Koran and Hadith. He spent over 20 years in the Gulf and returned to his native place a few years ago. Hamza is the main source of inspiration for the radicalised Muslim youth who joined the IS, the police said.Hamza had made acquaintance with Shybu Nihar while working in Bahrain. Even before this meeting, both the Manzoors and Shehnad left for Syria.
Ashraf Maulavi and Safeer used to take classes at the Al Ansar Salafi Center in Bahrain, which is alleged to have indoctrinated many youths, including those from Kerala. A few years ago, a week after a meeting held at Ashraf Maulavi’s house at Vaniyambalam near Wandoor, Fajid and Safeer left for Syria. Sahad, the brother of Mukhadish who also attended the meeting, backtracked from the mission.