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Shown Islamic State videos, forced to join terror outfit: Kerala teen’s complaint against mother, stepfather

Police book parents under UAPA but say they will have to verify claims before taking any further action

2 min readThiruvananthapuramNov 19, 2025 02:18 PM IST

The FIR was registered at the Venjaramoodu police station, which falls under the Thiruvananthapuram rural police district.

Following a complaint from a teenager alleging that he was forced to join the Islamic State terror outfit, Kerala police have registered a case against his mother and stepfather under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA.

The FIR was registered at the Venjaramoodu police station, which falls under the Thiruvananthapuram rural police district.

“We have registered the case based on a complaint from the 16-year-old. No further action has been initiated so far. We have to look into the veracity of the person’s claim against his parents before taking any further step,” Superintendent of Police K S Sudarasan said.

According to police, the boy is from the woman’s first marriage. The complaint states that she converted after remarrying, and the couple, along with the boy, moved to the United Kingdom.

The boy alleged that while staying in the UK, his mother and stepfather would show him videos about the Islamic State, pressuring him to join the outfit. It is alleged that when they returned to Kerala recently, the boy was admitted to a religious institution, where the authorities noticed behavioural changes. They alerted the family of his biological father, following which a complaint was filed.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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