Raids are being conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in over 40 Indian locations, in connection with the agency’s probe into the Popular Front of India (PFI), in the first such massive crackdown against the organization.
These raids started taking place right from the early hours of yesterday morning, September 21. The raids are happening in locations in states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, Delhi and Bihar. All these state’s locations were searched in a joint operation by the NIA and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
PFI office bearer houses at several places in Tamil Nadu including Dindigul, Theni, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Ramnad, and Thenkasi were raided. Searches are also being conducted at the Chennai PFI State Head office at Purasawakkam.
“The raids are taking place at the homes of national, state and local leaders of PFI. The state committee office is also being raided,” PTI quoted the outfit as saying.
It is said to be “the largest ever investigation till date”. The raids are taking place at the premises of those allegedly involved in organising training camps, terror funding, and radicalising people to join proscribed organisations, says officials.
As per the trusted reports, over 100 PFI leaders from across the country have been arrested or detained. However, the NIA has yet to confirm this.
