4 youth from Maharashtra go missing in Iraq

The government on Tuesday said four youth from Maharashtra have disappeared after leaving for Mosul from Baghdad in Iraq.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju informed Lok Sabha that four youth from Kalyan area of Thane district in Maharashtra travelled to Iraq under the guise of a pilgrimage tour.

Rijiju said all of them, along with a group of pilgrims, left Mumbai international airport on their valid passports and out of the four, one Fahaad had left a letter for his parents that he was going for “Allah’s work”.

“These youth are reported to be native of the same locality in Thane, Maharashtra, and all of them are educated. They left Mumbai for Baghdad via Abu Dhabi. After reaching Baghdad, they all were with the travel group for the holy visit for first few days and then reportedly got separated from the group.

“It has been reported that they took a taxi for Mosul which is situated about 400 km away from Baghdad. Detailed enquiries are still being conducted by Maharashtra police into the disappearance of these boys on their visit to Iraq,” he said replying to a written question.

The minister said no other incident has come to the notice of the government but it has been keeping watch on these developments and will react appropriately. 

There have been media reports that the four youth have joined insurgent group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which is fighting the Iraqi forces.