Kerala Police have recommended that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) take over the case involving alleged attempts to recruit a 16-year-old boy into ISIS, marking a serious escalation in a rare family-linked indoctrination incident.

Kerala Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar has advised the state government to hand over the case to the NIA, emphasising the gravity of the allegations and the national security concerns surrounding them.

The case, registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), was initially filed at the Venjaramoodu Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram district.

Allegations of indoctrination within family

According to the complaint, a woman originally from Pathanamthitta and her second husband from Vembayam had converted to another religion after their marriage and later attempted to indoctrinate her teenage son from her first marriage.

The couple, currently based in Thiruvananthapuram, face a UAPA case linked to the alleged efforts to influence the boy through ideological content.

Investigators highlight cross-border and digital links

The ongoing investigation is led by the Attingal Deputy Superintendent of Police. Given the suspected use of propaganda videos and potential international angles, the police chief has argued that a specialised national agency is better equipped to conduct a comprehensive probe.

The NIA has already begun a preliminary inquiry, reflecting the seriousness with which central agencies are viewing the matter.

The teenager reportedly escaped from a religious study centre where he was allegedly being influenced and is now under the care of his biological father’s relatives.

Link to Kanakamala IS module surfaces

Reports earlier highlighted that the case drew NIA attention due to a family connection. The partner of the woman accused is the brother of Sideeq, a convict in the Kanakamala IS module case. Sideeq, who completed a three-year prison term and was released earlier this year, had arranged the boy’s admission to an orphanage near Attingal after the boy arrived from the UK.

Once the state government grants approval, the case is likely to be formally transferred to the NIA for a deeper probe covering digital, ideological and cross-border elements.