Is Kerala turning into a terrorist hub?

Kozhikode, Oct 26 (UNI) Kerala, known the worldover as ''God's own country'', is gradually turning into a breeding ground for terror modules from Kashmir, sending shock waves across the country.

This was evident from confirmatiom given by intelligence agencies that four youths killed in encounter with security forces on October 7 and 10 in Kashmir were Keralites. Other related incidents also strengthen this argument.

They were Mohammed Faiz of Thana and Mohammed Fayas of Thayyil, both in Kannur district, Mohammed Yasir, whose name was Varghese Joseph before conversion to Islam, hailing from Ernakulam and Abdul Rahim of Chettipadi in Muslim-dominated Malappuram district.

On October 19, the police had arrested National Democratic Front (NDF) activist K V Abdul Jaleel(38) of Kadachira in Kannur for his alleged links with terror elements in the valley.

According to the SIM card of his mobile phone, he had made several calls to the Malayalees killed in the encounter.

Further investigation revealed that Jaleel had been in touch with the militants till October 3.

In an attempt to hoodwink security forces Jaleel later changed his SIM card citing getting a number of nuisance calls as the reason, police said.

Alarmed over the growing extremist activities in the relatively peaceful state, the government had set up a special investigation team headed by Inspector General of Police T K Vinod Kumar to probe the issue.

Earlier, the police had arrested four suspected activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India(SIMI) in the state.

They were Mohinuddin alias Thaha(31) hailing from Kothamangalam, Mohammed Nizar(20) of Paravur, Askar(20) of Kodungallur and Mohammed Nizar(33) hailing from Azhikode, said a senior police officer.

Reports quoting intelligence sources say Muslim extremists lure socially disadvantaged youth giving them financial aid and assistance in their academic persuit.

While constituting the special investigation team, state Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said no action would be taken against anyone on the basis of religion.

Talking to mediapersons at Thiruvananthapuram, he, however, said economic sources of those linked with terror groups will be subjected to detailed investigation.

UNI PCH VV AKJ AS1536