Abdul Rashid Abdulla (32), the alleged ring leader of the first group of Keralite that joined the Islamic State (IS) in 2016, is reportedly killed in a US airstrike in Afghanistan, reports The New Indian Express on June 3. According to a news report, Abdulla, an engineering graduate, was killed a month ago at Khorasan Province. His family and members of the group who are with him in Afghanistan, however, did not confirm the death.
Twenty-one people, including children, led by Abdulla left their homes in Padna, Trikaripur (Kasaragod District) and Palakkad (Palakkad District) in May 2016 to join the IS. They flew to the UAE, from where they entered Iran and crossed over to Afghanistan to be in Khorasan, a province controlled by the IS, according to the Police sources. Ashfaq Masjeed, one of the group members who routinely updates his relatives back home, did not confirm nor deny Abdulla’s death. “Even when Ashfaq’s cousin Shihaz and wife were killed, he confirmed it. But now he is silent,” said BC Rahman, a social activist in Padna who is in touch with the group on Telegram messaging app. But the news report quoting a message from an unnamed IS operative said, “Total three Indian brothers, two Indian women and four kids were killed”.
However,Kerala Police are awaiting confirmation from Central agencies on the death of Abdul Rashid Abdulla, who was reportedly killed in Afghanistan a month ago, reports The New Indian Express. State Police Chief Lokanath Behera said though there were certain reports on the death of Rashid Abdulla, the State Police was yet to get any confirmation. “We have checked with the Central agencies and are awaiting confirmation,” he said.
Meanwhile, intelligence officers said, death reports being circulated in Telegram could be a deliberate attempt by IS cadres to convince Indian agencies about the death of those persons who have left for Syria to join IS. After the fall of IS in Syria, cadres are trying hard to get into other countries or return home, they added.