Pic: Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network-Kasargod

Kasargod, Jun 20: A street in Kerala's Thuruthi ward under Kasaragod municipality which was named ‘Gaza’ last month, has caught the attention of intelligence agencies.

Gaza, a conflict-ridden strip of land between Israel and Egypt is a self-governing Palestinian territory. Though there are claims that the street in Kerala is named in solidarity with those “targeted” by Israeli authorities, intelligence agencies are not amused due to its proximity to Padane village.

Since 2016, as many as 21 youngsters reported missing from Padane village are believed to be inducted in Islamic State’s militant army in Syria.

Though municipality funds have been used for renaming, Municipal Chairman Beefathima Ibrahim has told media persons that she is not aware of such a street in her jurisdiction and plans to investigate the issue and rectify the matter.

The renaming was done last month in presence of Kasaragod district Panchayat president  AGC Basheer said, "I was not the person who was supposed to inaugurate the street as the area falls under the municipality's jurisdiction. But I had to step in at the last moment."

However, Kasaragod municipality opposition leader P Ramesh says that names of streets are being changed discreetly without bringing it to the notice of municipal council. “It is a deliberate attempt to change the names of various areas in Kasaragod. If the names are brought to the notice of municipal council, a debate will arise and such names will be rejected,” he said.

Gaza is not the first place in Kerala to have a controversial name. In Kerala’s Malappuram district, the Tipu Sultan beach was renamed as Saddam Beach after former Iraq president Saddam Hussein. The renaming was an act of solidarity after the 1991 Gulf War.

It is also interesting to note that Kerala is not the only state to have a street named Gaza. Downtown Srinagar is also known as the Gaza Strip of Kashmir. In Kashmir the place got the name as Kashmiris believe that their struggle is similar to the people in Palestine.