Over 100 were arrested in anti-terror raids against PFI
New Delhi, Sept 22: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided the offices of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in numerous states on Thursday morning.
The anti-terror agency conducted operations in ten states, including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, as part of a broad campaign against PFI.
The nationwide operations resulted in the arrest of more than 100 senior PFI officials and leaders. In a coordinated effort, the NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and state police carried out the raids.
Kerala saw the most arrests (22), followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each), Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Madhya Pradesh (4), Puducherry (3), Tamil Nadu (10), Uttar Pradesh (8), and Rajasthan (2).
NIA sealed the Telangana PFI head office in Chandrayangutta, Hyderabad in connection with a case registered earlier by NIA. NIA, ED, Paramilitary along with local police sealed the PFI office. pic.twitter.com/yQzVyJWfDy
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022
Raids and searches are being conducted against those who are reportedly involved in supporting terrorism, running training camps, and radicalizing others to join extremist groups as part of what is thought to be the “biggest ever” campaign to date.
PFI members protested the arrests in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The anti-terror agency searched 38 places in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday before charging four PFI employees under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).