KANNUR: Though the IS network has expanded to all parts of the state, Kannur is said to be emerging as the most fertile district for takers of the IS ideology. DySP P P Sadanandan, who refused to tag the district as the main destination for IS activities, said Kannur is among the places where IS modules are active in the state. “Around 90 to 100 people are under our surveillance and a few of them are from Kannur. People from other districts were also under surveillance,” he said.
The growing tentacles of IS in the district came to light when five IS sympathisers were arrested by the police on October 25 and 26 by a team led by Sadanandan.
The arrested were Midhilaj K C (26) of Munderi, Abdul Razack K V (24) of Chekkikkulam, Raashid M V (23) of Chakkarakkallu, U K Hamsa (57) and Manaf Rahman (45) of Thalassery. Of these, Midhilaj, Razack and Raashid had gone to Syria to join the IS but failed to do so as they were detained by the Turkey police and were sent back to India.
Later, the police released the photos of people who died in Syria while fighting with IS and the list of people who were still fighting in Syria. The Kannur natives who were killed were Shahanad (25) of Chaladu, Rishal (30) of Valapatanam, Muhammad Shajil (25) of Kamalpeedika, Shameer (45) and his elder son Salman (20) of Pappinisserry.
According to the police, Abdul Khayyum (25) of Chekkikkulam, Safwan (18) of Pappinisserry, Abdul Manaf (30), Shabeer (33) and Suhail (25) of Valapatanam were still fighting for IS in Syria. “The investigation is on and more details will be out in the coming days,” Sadanandan said.