Kerala DGP Loknath Behra has said in an interview that Kerala has become recruiting ground for terrorist organization Islamic State and that existence of sleeper cells in Kerala is also a possibility.
Kerala police DGP Loknath Behera said, “Radicalization is a matter of concern in Kerala and the state police have been taking big efforts to address it by conducting de-radicalization and counter-radicalization programs.”
In his interviews with news channels, the DGP indicated that while the recruitment of persons to the Islamic State (IS) from Kerala was concerning, it has lately decreased. “Kerala is a recruitment ground, according to the sources, since the people here are educated, and the IS requires engineers and doctors. However, we have dealt with it in a systematic manner, and it has decreased “he stated
He added that police, particularly the anti-terrorist squad (ATS), identified vulnerable people and counseled them with the assistance of their parents.
Adding that the police have mounted surveillance on the suspected sleeper cells of terrorist groups, Loknath Behera said, “After the exodus of 21 families to IS-controlled areas, we did lots of things. How many went after that? We have formed one of the best ATSs in the country and it is doing a great job behind the scene. That’s why there is not much concern. But we cannot be complacent”
The DGP went on to say that the surrender policy extended to the left-wing extremists have failed and that a global tender had been launched to hire modern helicopter ready to fight Naxals.
Behera claimed he had no reservations about invoking stringent UAPA, and that as a law enforcement officer, he used the legislation exactly as it was approved by Parliament.
(with inputs from NewIndianExpress)
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