Kalyan youth who joined ISIS calls family

Kalyan youth Saheem Tanki, who has reportedly joined Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), recently called his family saying he and two of his friends were alright.

His phone call on September 7 comes days after he informed his family on August 26 about the death of his friend Areeb Majeed in the fighting. Areeb, Saheem, Fahad Sheikh and Aman Tandel went missing in May and were later reported to have joined the ISIS. “He said he was fine. When his mother said she was very ill and she wanted him to return, Saheem asked her to take care and said he would definitely return but did not specify a time and date,” said a relative of Saheem who did not wish to be named.

Saheem’s mother then enquired about Aman and Fahad, and he only said that they both were in good health, the relative added. Saheem had also hinted at his return in his earlier call on August 26, when he informed his family about Areeb’s death. “I am in good health and will return soon,” he had told his brother Farzaan at the time.