Intelligence, internal security forces remain inactive in Kerala even as organizations like ISIS, Al Qaeda remain active

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as DGP Loknath Behera has admitted that Kerala has become a recruiting ground for the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization, the state intelligence and internal security forces remain inactive. The Cyberdome, which uses the services of even private hackers, appears to be active only in operations conducted to bust those who spread obscene videos and images of children. Central agencies like IB, NIA, RAW, Bangalore, and Delhi Police are tracking the presence of terrorism in Kerala through cyber patrolling.

The Maoists, Bodo extremists, Al Qaeda, and the Indian Mujahideen have links in Kerala. The police came to know about this when the NIA asked the Armed Forces to arrest three Al Qaeda operatives from Ernakulam. The United Nations had warned that there are between 150 and 200 Al Qaeda terrorists from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar on the Indian subcontinent. It had also warned that ISIS terrorists are active in Kerala and Karnataka. The Al Qaeda terrorists were caught from Kochi two months after receiving this warning.

Police were shocked when the NIA brought two Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar militants from Saudi Arabia to the Thiruvananthapuram airport. The police did not give much importance to the discovery of Pak-made bullets in the forest area of ​​Kollam. The state intelligence unit's social media surveillance and cyber patrol are only for namesake. The NIA and the IB are conducting terrorist propaganda and cyber patrols on social media. The sleeper cells of ISIS are detected through 'Operation Chakravyuh' which was launched by the IB.

• The post of DIG in Intelligence has been vacant for two years. Crime Branch IG has been given the additional charge of Intelligence. There is no Administration SP.
• The Department of Internal Security also has no SP. It has four DySPs in charge across Kerala.
• There is no accurate data collection in Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district where there is a large population of migrant workers.
• The Internal Security Investigation (ISIT), which investigates terrorist cases and monitors those with terrorist links, is inactive.
• The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is headed by DIG Anoop Kuruvila John who had worked in the NIA. The ATS is only focused on the Maoist hunt.