Two men arrested in Maharashtra in connection with suspected Islamic State (IS) links were on Sunday brought to Kochi as part of investigation into their role in alleged radicalisation of youngsters from Kerala.
Arshi Qureshi and Rizwan Khan were arrested in joint operations by the Maharashtra ATS and the Kerala Police, on Thursday and Saturday respectively. They were brought to Kochi by air and are being interrogated. The duo will be in transit demand till Monday.
Qureshi was reportedly employed as a guests relations officer in controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation. Khan was arrested from Kalyan on Saturday based on statements by Qureshi during his interrogation.
Abin Jacob, brother of Merin Jacob alias Miriam from Kochi who went missing with her husband Bestin Vincent alias Yahya, had registered a police complaint against Qureshi and Yahya for reportedly trying to convert him to Islam and to radicalise him.
Miriam, according to her family, was converted to Islam by Yahya; Miriam and Yahya are among the 21 people reportedly missing from Kasaragod and Palakkad.
Though the missing persons are suspected to have joined the IS, the Centre is yet to confirm reports of their recruitment in the terror outfit.
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