Police rule out terror connection to ‘black parade’ at college

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police and intelligence agencies have ruled out the possibility of terrorist organizations like the Islamic State and Al Qaeda forming their modules at the C H Muhammad Koya College of Advanced Studies in Varkala. A Malayalam television channel had reported that a celebration arranged at the college had the stamp of the terror organizations and graffiti supporting Al Qaeda was found on the walls of the lavatories in the college.

“It is a fact that the IS cadres who have migrated to Syria and Afghanistan are trying to woo the youth in Kerala. But the events happened in the college are harmless and have nothing to do with any terror outfit," an officer said.

College principal Janardhanan Pillai said that the institution would take legal action against the television channel once the police report was out. “The event mentioned in the report took place on March 14 this year. The theme of the event organized by the students was based on a Malayalam movie and actor Salim Kumar was the chief guest at the function. All, including the actor, came dressed in black. The procession wearing black attire was misinterpreted as the imitation of the terrorist outfit,” he said.

The principal said that around 50% of the students in the College was non-Muslims. "They also took part in the procession. Different batches of students had their own flags and emblems on the shirts designed for the function. These flags and emblems too were branded as that of the IS. Students have explained to the police what each emblem means and we think the officers are convinced," he said.

Different investigation agencies visited the college after the news was aired by the channel. They have recorded the statements of the students as part of the investigation. They think that an issue between a local television channel and the students during the Christmas celebrations on December 21 related to bike stunt performance was behind the re-emergence of the old visuals.