Kerala Man, Who Joined Islamic State With 20 Others, Killed In Drone Strike In Afghanistan

A youth from Kerala, believed to have joined the ISIS has been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan. The message was received by the family of Hafesudheen Theke Koleth in Kasaragod, Kerala, who was from the missing 21-member group who have left the nation. The message went on to say that the killed youth had been buried in Afghanistan.

“Alhamdulliah. Kabar adakki (Praise be to God, he has attained martyrdom). We are waiting for our turn… in Sha Allah (Inshallah). Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties: for the price theirs shall be the paradise. They fight in Allahs’ cause so they kill (others) and are killed,” the Telegram message read.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is already probing the ISIS nexus in Kasaragod, has been informed of this development. At least four out the 21 individuals, who belong to Christian and Hindu families, had converted to Islam over a year ago. Two of the individuals had reportedly sent text and voice messages to their families confirming that they have moved to a remote location.

Earlier, the NIA had arrested two people working for IS in connection with the criminal conspiracy. Accused Abdul Rashid Abdulla, resident of Kasaragod district and Yasmeen Mohammad Zahid, resident of Sitamarhi district, Bihar were booked under under sections 120-B and 125 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), besides sections 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

The NIA probe established that accused Abdul Rashid was the main conspirator behind the offence of motivating youth, hailing from Kasaragod district to exit from India along with their families, to join the terrorist organisation.

The investigation revealed that the conspiracy had been in operation since the month of July, 2015. Zahid was intercepted at the New Delhi International Airport on 30 July 2016 while she was trying to exit India for Kabul, Afghanistan, along with her minor child, with the intention of joining her co-conspirator Abdul Rashid, in the territory under the control of ISIS in Afghanistan.

With inputs from ANI