We are not terrorists, say two missing Kerala youths in voice message to their families

Kochi: Two of at least 20 youths, who are missing from the state of Kerala, have contacted their families and assured them not to worry as they have done nothing wrong, said reports on Tuesday.

According to CNN News 18, the two missing youths had sent a voice message to their families in which they said that they are not terrorists.

The youths, who did not disclose their location, said that they were safe and not involved in any terror-related activities.

The development came a day after the Kerala government formed a SIT to the probe the case of 20 missing men and women from the state in the past one month who are suspected to have joined the militant group ISIS.

A 20-member team headed by a Dy SP Kasargode Police have received 9 complaints from family members stating that 17 people are missing.

The remaining three people are from Palakkad district.

On Monday, National Investigation Agency officials met the families of the missing people in Kasaragod.

The agencies are analysing whether the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act can be slapped against all those who have joined the ISIS. The NIA sleuths are also probing the social media profiles and emails of all the suspects.

On Monday, one of the missing person Feroze from Kasargod was traced to Mumbai and authorities suspect that he could have been on his way to join the ISIS as he was among the latest to have gone missing from the state.

The agencies had claimed yesterday that at least 2-3 individuals from the missing 21 people could have crossed over to Syria.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had on Monday raised the issue in the assembly and confirmed that 20 people are missing from the state and a intense probe is underway to understand the details.