India's elite National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday (22) morning raided several premises linked to organisation Popular Front Of India (PFI), which is accused of promoting radical Islam, in many states across the country, government sources said.
The massive crackdown conducted by the anti-terror agency in 10 states, such as Uttar Pradesh, the five southern states such as Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, etc. saw arrest of more than 100 top PFI leaders and functionaries. Raids were also conducted in Puducherry.
The raids were carried out by officials of the NIA, Enforcement Directorate and state police forces in coordination.
Most arrests took place in Kerala -- 22, followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each), Tamil Nadu (10), Uttar Pradesh (eight), Andhra Pradesh (five), Assam (nine), Delhi (three), Madhya Pradesh (four), and Rajasthan (two).
In what is believed to the "largest ever" crackdown, raids and searches were carried out against those accused of being involved in terror funding, organising training funds and radicalising others to join extremist outfits, NDTV reported.
"In a major action across 10 states, NIA, ED and state police have arrested more than 100 cadres of PFI," sources told Asian News International.
PFI members staged protests in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka against the raids and arrests.
"The raids are taking place at the homes of national, state and local leaders of PFI. The state committee office is also being raided. We strongly protest the fascist regime's moves to use agencies to silence dissenting voices," the organisation said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Indian home minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting with officials in connection to the raids.
National security advisor Ajit Doval, NIA chief Dinkar Gupta and the director of Intelligence Bureau of India Tapan Deka were among those who attended the meeting.
Earlier this week, the anti-terror agency charged four PFI functionaries under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after conducting searches at 38 locations in states such as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The PFI was launched in Kerala in 2006 after merging three Muslim bodies floated after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 -- the National Development Front of Kerala; Karnataka Forum for Dignity; and Manitha Neethi Pasari of Tamil Nadu.
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