Kerala Teen Pushed Toward ISIS: Parents Booked Under UAPA

• 16-year-old allegedly exposed to ISIS videos by mother and stepfather
• Family approached police after noticing worrying behavioural shifts
• Teen was studying at a religious centre where teachers raised alarm
• NIA and state agencies examining all angles, including custody dispute

GG News Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram, 18th Nov: A 16-year-old boy from Thiruvananthapuram was allegedly encouraged to join the Islamic State by his mother and stepfather, leading police to register a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The complaint was filed at the Venjaramoodu Police Station after the teenager’s relatives raised concerns over suspected radicalisation.

According to police, the boy’s mother, originally from Pathanamthitta, had converted to Islam and later married a man from Vembayam. The couple had been living in the UK, where the boy visited them recently. During this visit, they allegedly exposed him to ISIS propaganda videos and attempted to influence him ideologically.

After returning to Kerala, the couple enrolled the teen at a religious study centre in Attingal. Teachers there reportedly observed a sudden change in his behaviour and informed his mother’s relatives, prompting them to approach authorities.

The Attingal Deputy Superintendent of Police is spearheading the probe under UAPA. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated preliminary inquiries, while senior officers — including the Thiruvananthapuram Rural SP and the Anti-Terror Squad — are closely monitoring developments.

Multiple angles are being examined. Police are cross-checking whether the allegations stem from a custody dispute involving the boy’s biological father. Another line of inquiry is probing possible links between the couple and an accused in an earlier NIA case.

Investigators are now verifying the credibility of all claims as the case moves into deeper scrutiny.