Over 100 leaders linked with the Popular Front of India (PFI) were arrested during the "largest ever investigation" that began Wednesday midnight. The major crackdown by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and police across over 10 states triggered massive protests on Thursday.
The NIA searches took place at the premises of those allegedly involved in terror funding, organising training camps, and radicalising people to join proscribed organisations, an official was quoted by PTI as saying.
#BREAKING | Nationwide raids against #PFI in 13 states
Exclusive inputs by @manojkumargupta @AnchorAnandN with insights | @shilparathnam | #SDPI pic.twitter.com/OYzj1V1f4P— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 22, 2022
The raids were also conducted at PFI office bearer houses at several places in Tamil Nadu including Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Ramnad, Dindugal, Theni and Thenkasi. Besides Tamil Nadu and Kerala, raids also took place in Karnataka, Bengal Bihar, Assam and Maharashtra among other states.
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106 PFI members arrested
Total 106 PFI members arrested so far in multiple raids carried out by a joint team of NIA, ED & state police across 11 states incl Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Karnataka (20), Kerala (22), MP (4), Maharashtra (20), Puducherry (3), Rajasthan (2), TN (10) & UP (8), reported ANI.
CJM court, Kamrup (Metro), Guwahati sends nine arrested persons linked with PFI to five days of police custody, reported ANI.
Several accused detained during the raid by NIA in Delhi were produced before Patiala House Court in the evening. Over 106 PFI members were arrested so far in multiple raids carried out by a joint team of NIA, ED and state police across 13 states, CNN News18 reported.
"Ten PFI activists are arrested for their involvement in propagating anti-establishment propaganda with communal overtones across the state and vitiating the atmosphere and posing a serious threat to the internal security of the country,” said CPRO, Assam, reported CNN News18.
Mumbai: Five arrested members of PFI brought to a session court in Mumbai by the ATS team pic.twitter.com/zIUXmapy2L
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022
NIA searches are currently underway at the PFI members' residences in Trombay area. One person from Karnataka has been detained, NIA said
PFI activists staged protests across Kerala against the raids carried out in their organisation's offices, houses of leaders and other premises by multi-agencies led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country. The outfit also called for a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the southern state on Friday to mark their strong protest against the central agencies' act.
Speaking out the NIA raids at PFI offices across 13 states, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "All forms of communalism and violence, regardless of where they come from, are the same and should be combated. There should be zero tolerance."
According to News 18, the agencies recovered leaflets, banners, booklets and other campaign materials from the Tiljala PFI office in Kolkata. Some cash and electronic devices were also reportedly found, as per sources.
Cash to the tune of Rs 24,000 and campaign materials mostly directed against the central agencies like the NIA and the CBI were seized from PFI offices in Kolkata, News 18 reported. The NIA is likely to conduct forensic examinations of the electronic devices for more information on possible sleeper cells.
Security personnel keep vigil outside the Popular Front of India (PFI) party office in Bengaluru, Thursday. (PTI Photo)Karnataka MLA and Congress leader MB Patil demanded action against the Bajrang Dal, PFI and SDPI. "Ban all the organisations. But nobody is coming forward to ban them," he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with officials including the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary, and DG NIA on PFI raids, as per ANI.
The Centre may soon ban the PFI as there are serious allegations against the organisation, top government sources said. Moreover, "the massive, multi-agency crackdown on the Popular Front of India (PFI) is directly monitored by the Ministry of Home Affairs," ED sources told CNN-News18.
As many as 106 PFI leaders were arrested across 13 states as part of the joint searches conducted by the NIA, the ED and state police, News 18 reported. "In the major action being taken across 10 states, the NIA, the ED along with state police have arrested over 100 cadres of PFI," news agency ANI quoted sources as saying.
Karnataka Police detained PFI and SDPI workers protesting against NIA raid in Mangaluru https://t.co/UB1PMTkP82 pic.twitter.com/70Fy4BQZOc
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022
Among these 106, five were arrested in Andhra Pradesh, nine in Assam, three in Delhi, 20 in Karnataka, 22 in Kerala, four in Madhya Pradesh, 20 in Maharashtra, three in Puducherry, two in Rajasthan, 10 in Tamil Nadu and eight in Uttar Pradesh, as per ANI sources.
While Delhi PFI president Parvez was among those arrested, the residence of OMA Salam, PFI chairman, in Kerala's Malappuram, along other PFI offices were raided by the agency.
Meanwhile, according to reports, four offences have been registered in Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, and Nanded ( districts in Maharashtra) in various sections of the Indian Penal Code ( 153 A , 121A , 109, 120B )and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Section 13(1) (b) for indulging in unlawful activities promoting enmity amongst communities and for conspiring to wage war against the State.
Kerala Police detained PFI workers in Kannur after they tried to block a road in order to protest against the NIA raids
NIA raids are underway at several locations linked to PFI in several states pic.twitter.com/53zRJ7TYo4— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022
This triggered protests by PFI and SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) workers. PFI workers across Assam protested the raids by the NIA and the ED. Activists in Nagarbera blocked roads, while slogans were raised in Boko and Goalpara.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up in Karnataka after police detained protesting PFI and SDPI workers in Mangaluru.
Karnataka | PFI and SDPI workers protest against NIA raid in Mangaluru
NIA is conducting searches at multiple locations in various states pic.twitter.com/4Pl2Tj8oar— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022
In Telangana, the NIA sealed the PFI head office located in Hyderabad's Chandrayangutta in connection with a case registered earlier by the agency. In Andhra Pradesh, the SDPI workers raised slogans of "NIA Go Back" to protest against the NIA raid at the residence of an SDPI leader in Kurnool district.
#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: SDPI workers raise slogans of "NIA Go Back" to protest against the NIA raid at the residence of an SDPI leader in Kurnool district. pic.twitter.com/VTTKdZk2th
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022
Responding to the raids, the PFI said in a statement, "The raids are taking place at the homes of national, state and local leaders of the PFI. The state committee office is also being raided. We strongly protest the fascist regime's moves to use agencies to silence dissenting voices."
In a press release, PFI’s National Executive Council (NEC) condemned the NIA raids and “the unjust arrests and the harassments of its National and state leaders across India and the witch-hunting against the members, and supporters of the organization.”
“NIA’s baseless claims and sensationalism are solely aimed at creating an atmosphere of terror,” the statement said, adding, “Popular Front will never ever surrender on any scary action by a totalitarian regime using the central agencies as its puppets.”
(With inputs from agencies)
(Edited by : Akriti Anand)
First Published: Sept 22, 2022 8:51 AM IST
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