Kannur: The police on Friday released the photographs of five persons, all natives of Kannur who were killed in Syria after joining the Islamic State. It is for the first time the police has confirmed their death though there were reports earlier of their killings based on feedback received by their kith and kin through communication platform like Telegram.
The victims are T.V. Shameer, a native of Pazhanchira near Pappinissery, his son Salman, A.V. Shahnad from Chalad, Muhammed Shajil from Mundery, Chakkarakkallu, and Rihsal from Valapattanam. The photographs, which were given earlier by the central intelligence agencies, were handed over to the media after perusing the communications of those arrested recently and also getting confirmation from them.
DySP P.P. Sadanandan, who is investigating the case, told DC that the police had been trying to confirm the deaths though the photographs were received much earlier. “We have no other evidence like the body or foolproof visuals of the body. But the deaths have been confirmed by verifying multiple sources,” he added.
It was in December 2015 that Shameer along with his wife Fousiya, children Safvan, Salman and Najiya went to Syria. Shahnad joined IS camp during his job in Bahrain.
Shijith went to Syria in October 2016 along with his wife Shahnas, children Mishva and Abdulla Vahid. It was his wife who first informed the relatives about his death during the IS war. She had also asked the relatives to pray for him and also do other religious ceremonies, according to police.
Rishal, native of Valapattanam, went to Syria in 2014 along with his wife Huda. Later his relatives received a message from the couple that they were trapped in IS camp and unable to escape. Police also confirmed the death of three persons from Kozhikode and Malappuram who went along with Rishal.
It may be recalled that police had arrested the other day three persons who were deported by Turkey after they were arrested from Syria border while trying to enter the IS controlled zones. Two others who were on with a recruiting drive also were arrested.
