KOCHI:
Arshid Qureshi, an activist of controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation, has reportedly admitted to having converted 700 people to Islam. There were many Keralites among them.
He made this disclosure to intelligence officials in Kochi during interrogation in connection with the case of missing youths in Kerala who are reported to have joined IS, a terrorist organisation.
Arshid is reported to have told the investigation team that the religious conversion ceremony was held at the Islamic Reserach Foundation in Mumbai.
Qureshi’s assistant Rizwan Khan prepared the documents of conversions. It was also disclosed that RIzwan had visited Kerala many times.
Arshid and Rizwan were arrested last week by Kerala police and Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad from Mumbai on a complaint filed by Ebin Jacob, brother of Merin alias Mariyam who is reported to have embraced Islam.
