Islamic State recruit from Kannur in Kerala killed in Syria

Kannur, January 19

An Islamic State (IS) recruit from the district had been killed in Syria, police said here on Friday.

Confirming the death of Abdul Manaf (30), a native of Valapattinam in the district, in November last year, a senior police official said the news was received by his relatives on January 17 from his friend, who is also in Syria, through Telegram messenger app.

“The news about the death of Abdul Manaf in a fight in November 2017 in Syria is correct. It was sent by his friend Kayyum, who is also fighting for the IS in Syria,” Deputy Superintendent of Police PP Sadanandan said.

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Manaf was a local leader of the Kerala-based Popular Front India. He had also worked as the office secretary of the outfit in Delhi for some time before joining the IS, he said.

Manaf was also involved in the murder of a CPI (M) worker in 2009, he said.

About 15 people from Kannur district have joined the terrorist outfit over a period of time.

Of them, six, including Manaf, have been killed in Syria while five were arrested and handed over to NIA for investigation, Sadanandan said, adding that the remaining four are in Syria fighting for the IS. PTI