Verdict in first Islamic State case on Saturday

Kochi: A special court in Kochi is slated to pronounce verdict in the first of the six cases investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for suspected IS (Islamic State) links of accused from the state, on March 24. The final hearing in the case, in which 15 persons from Kasargod allegedly migrated to Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan to “join the Islamic State” in 2016, was completed on Tuesday.

The lone arrested person Yasmin Mohammed Zahid of Bihar is facing trial now. NIA had filed the charge sheet against Yasmin and first accused Abdul Rashid. The latter is now suspected to be in Afghanistan while Yasmin is currently out on bail.

“As part of the trial, the court had examined 52 prosecution witnesses, one defense witness and nearly 50 material objects,” an NIA officer said. As per the case, the 15 Kasargod natives had travelled to Afghanistan in 2016 to join the IS. Initially, the Kerala Police registered a missing case (534/2016) in this regard at the Kasargod police station. Yasmin, who allegedly attempted to join IS with her son, was intercepted by the Kerala Police at the Delhi International Airport on July 30, 2016.