Government to act tough against extremist activities in State

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan said in the Assembly on Monday that the government would take action, without any lenience, against anti-national activities, terrorism and extremism in the State in collaboration with Central agencies.

Replying to submissions on disappearance of people from the State with reports about their joining the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, the Chief Minister said that activities of extremists and those with terror links were a serious problem.

Mr. Vijayan said that a total of 21 persons had been reported missing from Kerala and most of them are reported to have reached terrorist camps in Syria or Afghanistan. Of them, 17 including four women and three children were from Kasaragod district. Two men and two women were missing from Palakkad district. One of the women who had disappeared from Palakkad with her husband Isa originally belonged to Thiruvananthapuram. She had converted to Islam and married Isa.

He said that one of the 21 persons by name Feroze had reportedly been arrested in Mumbai.

He said that extremism and terrorism were not religion centred. People from all religions become extremists. However, certain vested interests were trying to take advantage of the current situation. They try to create a smokescreen and stir up hatred against Muslims when the majority of Muslims were opposed to extremism and terrorism.  Only a small section of Muslims were becoming extremists and terrorists.

The extremists and terrorists, he added, should be isolated and general awareness created against their activities.

Earlier, making the submission, Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the Central and State agencies should take coordinated action about extremist activities in the State.

O. Rajagopal (BJP) said that the police took no action when the only daughter of a trustee of Attukal temple, who was studying at Dental College in Kasargod, came under extremist influence. He was not against conversion and marriage, but people should be stopped from joining the IS.

P. T. Thomas (Congress) and M. Rajagopal (CPI-M) also raised submissions about people missing from their constituencies.