Kerala (Islamist/Other Conflicts): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

A special NIA court in Kerala on January 10, sentenced an Islamic State (IS) terrorist, identified as Muhammad Polakanni, a resident of Kozhikode in Kerala, who was arrested on September 18, 2020 at the Delhi airport on his arrival from Georgia, to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for planning to carry out attacks on various targets including foreigners in the country, reports siasat.com. An NIA spokesperson stated that Muhammad Polakanni was the ninth accused convicted in a case relating to the conspiracy and consequent formation of the IS/Daesh-inspired terrorist module Ansarul Khilafa-Kerala in early 2016 by some youths which was registered suo motu by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 1, 2016. Read less...

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on January 17 arrested a person, named Mohammed Sadique, from Chavara in Kollam District in Kerala, for his suspected linkages with Popular Front of India (PFI), reports The Print. Read less...

Kerala Government on January 23 informed the Kerala High Court that it has attached the properties of 248 operatives of Popular Front of India (PFI) as part of recovery proceedings in connection with the damage to public property, in violence, called by the outfit in September, 2022, reports PTI. The recovery proceedings against those involved in the violence were initiated after the High Court expressed displeasure over the government's delay in executing its order in connection with it. The state Home Department informed that the most number of revenue recoveries were from Malappuram District -- 126 properties. Read less...

Mohammad Sadiq, who was arrested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) on January 17, for working for the Popular Front of India (PFI) revealed that he was a fruit vendor, who was assigned the role of a ‘reporter’ by the PFI, reports The Indian Express on January 27. He had been asked by the outfit to collect information on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) events in Kollam District in Kerala, including details of guests who were invited to these events for possible targeting by hit squads. The NIA found pamphlets of several RSS events and guest lists from his possession and also digital devices and several incriminating documents were seized from his house during the arrest operation. SATP had earlier reported this arrest on January 18. Read less...

The political wing of the Popular Front of India (PFI), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) is trying hard to re-group its cadres and strengthen the party in Kerala after the ban on the PFI and its top leaders had been jailed, The Hindustan Times reports on January 28. The SDPI, founded in 2008, which had been keeping a low-profile for three months after the nation-wide crackdown on its parent outfit, started protests throughout Kerala with meetings organised outside the state secretariat and in Kochi in Ernakulam District on Jan 26. SDPI National President M K Faizy stated, “We will bounce back. No one will remain destitute due to the ongoing clamp down and attachment of properties. As a political party we will protect our families and cadres. The party will expose the fascist measures taken by the RSS-controlled government.” Read less...

The Hyderabad team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioned at least six journalists on suspected ties with terror organisations, The Print reports on January 31. As per the NIA sources, a group of journalists was maintaining a close association with the terror outfits. The journalists who were questioned, were suspected to be the mastermind behind recruiting youngsters from Northern Kerala for terror outfits. NIA also retrieved digital evidence from the journalists. Read less...