PANJIM: Giving a clean chit to the two detained Kerala natives, Goa Police on Tuesday clarified that the tri-fold brochure in Kannada with ‘ISIS’ printed in bold letters had raised suspicion among persons at Dona Paula about possible terrorism links.
Abdul Nazir and Ilyas Ismael, both hailing from Kasargod district on the borders of Kerala and Karnataka, were detained by Panjim police late Monday evening.
North Goa SP Umesh Gaonkar allayed speculation of terrorism links and clarified that the duo are Salafi believers, preachers of Islam. “Our team of Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau, Anti Terrorist Squad and Panjim Police interrogated both overnight. We did not find any terror links. Both were suspected to be terrorists by the locals who had found them reading the pamphlets in Kannada,” he said.
Gaonkar said they were in possession of the pamphlets, which promotes a convention of Salafi Muslims scheduled to be held in Mangalore from January 9-15, this year.
Ismael is a resident of Margao where he is living for over a decade, while Nasir is his brother-in-law who had arrived from Kasargod. “Ismael’s brother-in-law Nazir had brought some pamphlets from Mangalore that speaks about the ‘Miracle Exhibition on Islam’. Since the contents are in Kannada and had ISIS on the cover page, the locals suspected foul play and alerted the police,” he said stating that the text actually condemns ISIS activity.
The pamphlets which were seized from them were translated and were found to have anti-ISIS slogans calling ISIS Shaitan and preaching Islam, the SP said adding that the Salafi event at Mangalore would be attended by prominent ministers of Karnataka who belong to different religions.
Gaonkar said that while interrogation was underway, Margao and Mangalore police were roped in to investigate their details.
Police also verified whether the mobile number written on the pamphlet was genuine. “We contacted the Salafi Masjid at Chandrawado in Fatorda where he visits. The concerned officials confirmed he (Ismael) comes there. They are genuine. We have also verified their identity proof. They have no links with terrorism,” Gaonkar asserted while appreciating the alertness of the local people.
On Monday evening, the duo had arrived at Dona Paula with their family where Ismael was left behind as he was engrossed in reading the pamphlet. “Seeing this, locals raised suspicion and gheraoed him. Ismael’s brother-in-law then inquired what the issue was. By then, the police were called and both were taken to the police station. Some people had also gathered out of curiosity,” the officer said. Both were produced before the Magistrate seeking their release from the custody.
