India’s primary investigation agency, NIA (National Investigation Agency) has raided at 93 locations across the country and arrested 45 persons associated with a prominent Muslim organisation PFI (Popular Front of India) for alleged terror links.
The raids were carried out in the offices of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and residential houses of its members at least across 93 locations in 15 Indian states, the NIA said in a statement on Thursday evening.
“The raids were conducted in connection with five cases related to “funding of terrorism and terrorist activities, organising training camps for providing armed training and radicalising people to join banned organisations,” NIA said.
“As on date, the NIA is investigating a total of 19 PFI-related cases,” said the statement.
As per NIA, most of the arrests were made in the southern states. In Kerala, 19 people were arrested as PFI enjoys considerable influence in Muslim-majority areas, the NIA said in its statement.
“Arrests were also made in Tamil Nadu (11), Karnataka (7), Andhra Pradesh (4), Rajasthan (2) and one each from Uttar Pradesh and Telangana,” according to the statement.
The raids sparked protests in several parts of Kerala, where the PFI has called for a strike on Friday. Similar protests were also reported from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states.
The PFI was established in 2007 after the merger of three Muslim groups – the National Democratic Front in Kerala, the Karnataka Forum for Dignity in Karnataka, and the Manitha Neethi Pasarai in Tamil Nadu. In 2009, the organisation formed its political wing, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), to contest elections.