On 14th November, Kerala once again found itself in the spotlight after a disturbing case of alleged ISIS recruitment surfaced from Thiruvananthapuram. The incident has added to the state’s long-standing concerns about radicalisation attempts.

Media reports stated that a mother and her second husband were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly trying to push their 16-year-old son into joining the Islamic State terror group. Authorities confirmed that an FIR was registered at the Venjaramoodu Police Station after the boy’s relatives complained that the mother and stepfather had shown him ISIS videos during their stay in the United Kingdom.

Following the complaint, the police launched an investigation and began collecting evidence. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) also started gathering intelligence inputs. This aligns with Kerala’s repeated encounters with extremist propaganda and recruitment patterns, as noted in several previous reports.

Teen Was Pressured by Mother and Stepfather to Join ISIS

According to police findings, the boy—born from the woman’s first marriage—had travelled with her and her second husband, Ansar, to the United Kingdom in 2021. Investigators recorded that it was during this period that the couple allegedly tried to push him towards the ISIS ideology. The teenager informed officials that “his mother and stepfather repeatedly showed him ISIS propaganda videos and pressured him to study the organisation’s ideology. They forced him to consider joining the terrorist outfit.”

These repeated efforts reportedly caused arguments within the family, as the boy resisted the extremist views he was being exposed to. After spending several years abroad, the three returned to Kerala earlier this year. Soon after, the parents admitted the child to a madarsa in Attingal. Media reports, quoting unnamed police sources, stated that the mother and stepfather then left the country again, while the boy remained at the religious institution.

Behavioural Changes Reported at the Madarsa

The first signs that something was seriously wrong emerged at the Attingal madarsa. Staff members noticed the teenager showing sudden and troubling behavioural changes. His actions deviated sharply from usual student behaviour and raised concern among the administrators. Sensing that the boy was distressed, the institution reached out to his relatives in Kerala. Their communication proved crucial, as it alerted the family that the boy needed immediate attention and may have been exposed to harmful influences.

Child’s Relatives Filed the FIR

After receiving the message from the madarsa, the boy’s relatives visited him and were shocked by what he revealed about his parents’ attempts to draw him toward ISIS. Given the seriousness of what they heard, they immediately approached the Venjaramoodu Police Station. They expressed concerns about whether the teenager had been exposed to extremist content.

The police questioned the child soon after, and he directly stated that “his mother and stepfather attempted to push him to join ISIS by showing him propaganda videos.” This testimony became the foundation for the UAPA case filed against the accused.

Investigators Proceeding With Caution

The FIR was registered under several sections of the UAPA. Superintendent of Police KS Sudarsan confirmed that the complaint had been taken from the teenager himself. Officials are currently verifying every statement he made before advancing further. Considering the matter involves an international terrorist organisation—and given Kerala’s past cases of radicalisation—the investigators are handling the case discreetly. Their goal is to determine whether this incident is part of a broader international recruitment chain or an isolated attempt.

What the Teenager’s Statement Uncovered

Based on the boy’s initial testimony, Kerala Police believe that the coercion largely took place during the family’s stay in the United Kingdom. The teenager explained that “there was repeated exposure to ISIS videos.” He further stated that “his stepfather glorified extremist ideology and pressured him to join the terror group.” These statements have formed the core of the investigation.

NIA Begins Collecting Intelligence Inputs

Various state police units are currently analysing the family’s movements, digital footprints, and associations abroad. Meanwhile, the NIA has begun primary-level intelligence collection. The agency has not taken over the case yet. Kerala has seen several ISIS recruitment attempts over the past decade, and multiple agencies remain on high alert due to recent warnings that banned groups may be trying to revive their operations.

Kerala’s Earlier Encounters With ISIS Recruitment and Sleeper Cell Alerts

Kerala has long been under watch because of repeated incidents involving individuals attempting to join or being recruited into ISIS networks. Several cases from Kasaragod, Kozhikode, and other parts of the state have been documented over the years, involving both youth and families influenced by extremist propaganda. Reports of sleeper cells operating in parts of Kerala were also highlighted as early as 2021.

Investigators first traced ISIS ties in Kerala back to 2013, and by 2014, the organisation had reportedly begun encouraging conversions and trying to attract skilled workers to join their ranks in Syria and Afghanistan. Many men and women from Kerala are believed to have joined ISKP (Islamic State of Khorasan Province) in recent years.

The United Nations’ 2020 terrorism report explicitly warned that Kerala had a substantial number of ISIS-affiliated individuals, raising concerns among Indian agencies.

The banned extremist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) has also been linked to radicalisation activity in the state. The group was accused of pushing Muslim youth towards extremist ideologies and facilitating conversions. This was documented in an NIA report submitted to a Kochi court in September 2022.