“I am neither dead nor with the Islamic State (IS). I have not done anything illegal and have been working for a private company in Riyadh,” said 30-year-old Abul Khuddus Turki who spoke to The Hindu over the videophone from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
He has been repeating this to his family in Vijayapura in north Karnataka ever since an English daily reported, on Wednesday, that a certain Abul Khuddus Turki from Vijayapura was one of three Karnataka youths who allegedly died fighting for the IS.
Mr. Turki said he had to speak several times to his family to reassure them that he is safe and has no contact with any terrorist groups in West Asia. “It took me a good share of time to convince my family that I am fine and doing well here,” he added.
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He said that he was not sure if there was anyone else with the same name from the town.
His maternal uncle here Ismail Saudagar said, “It is shocking and false if the report quoting IB sources mistook his nephew as an IS member. And since many people know us here, it has been traumatic for the family.”
Even the local police have visited the family and Mr. Turki’s relatives explained to them that he had been working for a private catering company in Riyadh for the last 10 months and had “not committed any crime”.
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While Mr. Turki’s family members were relieved to hear that he was safe, they said they would look further into the issue and find out if it was a case of mistaken identity and seek a clarification.
Shocked Vijayapura family says news report quoting IB sources
is false