Another Islamic State recruit from Kerala killed in Afghanistan

When 24-year-old NP Marwan left his North Kerala home to join the Islamic State last year, his folks did not know if they would ever see him again. They received a definitive answer on Monday, and it was not one they had been hoping for.

Kasargode resident KVP Ismail was informed through the Telegram app that his son, who had joined the ranks of Islamic State fighters last year, was killed in a US drone attack in Afghanistan. The message — which was later handed over to intelligence agencies — was purportedly sent from the account of Ashfaq Mohamed, another youngster who had gone missing from here.

Marwan is the sixth of the 21 youngsters who allegedly joined the Islamic State last year to be killed in action. Another youth, Yahiya alias Beston, was eliminated in a similar attack a few weeks ago.

Upon leaving his Trikaripur residence in May 2016, Marwan – a graduate – told his family that he was headed to Mumbai in pursuit of higher education. They did not hear from him until three months later, when they came to know that he had married a foreigner someplace far away. Most of the missing people have been disowned by their relatives, who claim that their act of joining the terror organisation has disgraced their country and community. While a few initially tried to convince them into returning, they now claim to have lost all hope.