Thiruvananthapuram: DGP Loknath Behra has directed to monitor groups and organizations suspected to have links with ISIS terrorists in Kerala. He asked the state anti-terrorism squad to keep an eye on such teams and the directive was handed over to ATS DIG Anoop Kuruvila John.
The DGP’s instruction comes after UN report confirmed ‘significant number of terrorists’ in Kerala and Karnataka. The state special branch and the intelligence unit have also been directed to exercise strict vigilance.
The NIA and the state police had earlier investigated gangs linked to ISIS terrorists and their activities in Kerala. The Kerala Police and Intelligence found the presence of ISIS and the recruitment of some people from Kerala during the investigation into the disappearance of 24 people from Kasaragod in 2016. Further investigation revealed that the missing persons had left the country and joined ISIS terrorists in Syria.
The UN report indicates that there is a significant increase in the number of IS terrorists in Kerala and Karnataka.
