Thiruvananthapuram, 20 Nov (H.S.): The Kerala Police Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has taken over the investigation into a disturbing case in which a 16-year-old boy alleged that his mother and her partner attempted to recruit him to the Islamic State (ISIS).

Acting on the boy’s complaint, the Venjaramoodu police initially registered a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) before the matter was escalated to the ATS.

According to the complaint, the woman, a native of Pathanamthitta who had converted from Christianity to Islam, was living in the United Kingdom with her first husband when she became acquainted with another man from Vembayam.

This man later became her partner. The boy told police that the couple tried to indoctrinate him by showing ISIS propaganda and other radical materials in an effort to lure him into extremist ideology.

Given the sensitivity of the case, senior officers have refrained from making public statements. Police sources confirmed that the inquiry started under the Attingal DySP before the ATS assumed control due to the possible wider ramifications.

Although the woman and her partner are under close surveillance, they have not been taken into custody. Investigators have verified that the boy was exposed to radical content.

The couple had reportedly sent the boy back to Kerala citing “behavioural issues”. Once here, he was admitted to a madrassa in Attingal, where teachers soon noticed troubling changes in his behaviour.

The madrassa authorities subsequently informed his biological father, who approached the Venjaramoodu police and triggered the formal registration of the UAPA case.

Sources also indicate that the woman’s partner may be the brother of an accused in the 2019 ISIS Kanakamala recruitment case, though officials have not confirmed this link, citing the ongoing investigation.

Another aspect under examination is an earlier complaint alleging that the teenager attempted to harm his younger sibling. It was during questioning in connection with this incident that police reportedly became aware of suspected attempts at radicalisation.

With the ATS now leading the probe, investigators are examining whether the alleged recruitment attempt was an isolated episode or connected to a larger network.

The case remains under tight watch due to its serious and potentially far-reaching implications.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman