The youth from Kerala who are feared to have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) are likely to be slapped with the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (UAPA). The investigation team, which is now probing the matter is also considering handing over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA.)
The people who are confirmed to have links with the Islamic State will be booked under the UAPA. The Intelligence Bureau has reportedly concluded that at least five out of 12, who went missing from Kasaragod district, have direct links with the terror group.
At least 21 people from the districts of Kasaragod, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram have gone missing under different circumstances in the state and a probe has been ordered to find their whereabouts. Although it is yet to be confirmed that all of them have left to join the terrorist group, the messages sent by some of the youngsters point to their connection with the Isis.
A special investigation team has been constituted under Kanhangad DySP Sunil Babu to investigate the cases of missing persons from Kasaragod.
On Monday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had stated that the government is closely following the matter and would take all the necessary precautions while reviewing the situation. He was responding to the submission by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. "It is not right to link terrorism with only one religion, Islam," he added.
Of the missing persons from Kerala, 12 people hail from Kasaragod, five youth belong to Palakkad and one hails from Thiruvananthapuram. Among them are two expectant women and three children.
