Last week around 15 youths from Kerala's Kasaragod and Palakkad districts, who went to the Middle East for religious studies have disappeared and their families had no clue where they are from one month. Families suspected that they may have joined the Islamic State.

It became true after Ijas Muhammad, a doctor and local of Kasargode in northern Kerala, sent an audio message to his parents on Sunday, letting his parents know that he has reached his destination and asked them not to search for him.

Muhammad was not on a get-away, and nor had he absconded. He had joined the Islamic State (IS) similar to some other Muslim youth from Kerala.  An intelligence official said the online message was sent from West Asia.

“We reached our destination. There is no point in complaining to police as this will create more problems for you. We have no plans to return from the abode of Allah,” said the online message sent by Ijas Muhammad.

Muhammad has a medicinal degree from China and was working with a facility at Vadakara in Kozhikode area. He was on leave for two months.

On Sunday, the Kerala LDF government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had interestingly conceded that 17 Muslim youth had been lost from the state and may have joined ISIS.

“The missing from Kasargode included four women and three children. And two women were among the missing from Palakkad,” he said.

Police suspect the role of Salafi groups in radicalising these people. “Most of them are inspired by Wahabism. The IS to is driven by the same principles,” said a Muslim reformist in Kozhikode who did not want to be named.

Also Read: 15 Youths from Who Went to Middle East Go Missing

By M. Divya Shri