THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As per an intelligence report given to the state police chief, two "recognised" religious conversion centres in Kozhikode and Malappuram converted as many as 5,793 people to Islam between 2011 and 2015. However, top government officials fear the conversions happening in unrecognised centres in the state could be higher.
The report states that almost half of those who converted to Islam are women and the majority of these women (76 per cent) are below the age of 35. Of those converted, 4,719 were Hindus and the remaining 1,074 were mostly Christian. The conversions took place at Tharbiyathul Islam Sabha in Kozhikode and Monunsthil Islam Sabha at Ponnani, two traditional religious institutions in the state 'authorised' to convert people from other religions to Islam.
"Inquiries are required to know whether this will affect the communal harmony, internal security of the state and nation. A detailed SSB inquiry in Kasaragod, Kannur, Alppuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, and Palakkad is to unearth the details," the report said. The record was prepared in connection with the conversion of Nimishaa alias Fathima, currently missing along with 20 others from the state and suspected to have joined Islamic State.
Community kitchens' in tribal hamlets
Meanwile, Kerala minister for welfare of scheduled tribes A K Balan said that the 'community kitchen' scheme would be extended to all tribal areas in the state to mitigate the malnutrition issue among the tribals. At present 59 community kitchens are there in the 186 tribal hamlets in Attappady, one of the largest tribal settlements in the state," he said.
Stating that the government's focus was on development of eco-tribal habitats, the minister said they have no plans to relocate over 26,000 primitive tribes living inside forests as part of rehabilitation. The 'community kitchen' scheme was first started in the tribal areas of Palakkad district in 2013 to provide one full meal each day to children below six years, adolescents, pregnant women, and those above 60 years of age.
