THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Intelligence reports have warned that India and Sri Lanka are likely to be under threat with terror group ISIS as it is turning its attention to the Indian Ocean Region due to its failure across Syria and Iraq.

Kerala police officers hinted at the possibility of such a development, after loss of territory in Iraq and Syria, The terrorist organization ISIS is urging its operatives to take up violent forms of jihad while staying back in their respective countries.

Key installations in Kochi, including a prominent shopping mall, could become ISIS targets. Increased ISIS-related cyber-activity in the country is being taken as signs of possible terror attacks. Senior officials cited Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kashmir as the states most vulnerable ones to be the possible ISIS targets in the country.

Terrorists are using other secure apps such as ChatSecure, Signal and SilentText to pass on information instead of regular Telegram Messenger because of the fear of information leak.

According to a senior police officer, at least 100 people are believed to have joined ISIS from Kerala in the last few years. Around 3,000 have been “deradicalized” at 21 counselling centers across the southern state and are now being monitored. Most of these suspects hail from north Kerala, he added. (Agencies)