New Delhi: Amidst reports that a group of Keralites had joined terror outfit Islamic State, Union Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju on Monday said there was no confirmation that the missing persons had joined IS.
“We are garnering details on the matter. The Home Ministry will respond after garnering authentic information,” Rijiju told the media here.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday informed the Assembly that a total of 21 persons have been missing from the state.
Among them, 17 were from Kasaragod and four from Palakkad as per the preliminary information available, Vijayan told the Assembly while replying to a submission raised by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.
"The missing persons from Kasaragod included four women and three children. Two women were among those missing from Palakkad," he said.
These people had left their homes stating different reasons, he said.
As per the media reports, these people had gone to Syria and Afghanistan and they were in IS camps, he said.
Quoting media reports, Vijayan said one Firoz from Kasaragod has been taken into custody from Mumbai Sunday in connection with the development.
The government was viewing the matter very seriously, he said, adding it would take necessary steps with the support of the central agencies, to tackle the issue.
"The state government is committed to take stern action against any kind of terror activities," he said, adding the government, at the same time, would not allow any vested interest to exploit the situation.