Nearly 106 arrested in NIA's 'largest-ever' raids in 11 states over terror funding charges

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/MANGALURU: As many as 106 activists of the Popular Front of India were arrested on Thursday in early morning raids by multi-agencies led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), covering around 11 states, for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country, officials said.

Total of 106 PFI members arrested so far in multiple raids across 11 states including Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Karnataka (20), Kerala (22), MP (4), Maharashtra (20), Puducherry (3), Rajasthan (2), TN (10) & UP (8).

The raids, taking place mainly in South India, was termed by the NIA as the "largest ever" investigation process "till date".

The NIA said the searches are taking place at the premises of people allegedly involved in terror funding, organising training camps, and radicalising people to join proscribed organisations.

Details of the arrested activists were not available immediately, but officials said the arrests were done by the NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police forces of 11 states so far.

In a statement, the PFI said, "Raids are taking place at the homes of its national, state and local leaders. The state committee office is also being raided. We strongly protest the fascist regime's moves to use agencies to silence dissenting voices."

In Malappuram, the house of the national chairman OMA Salam at Manjeri and the organisation's state headquarters in Kozhikode were raided. State committee member Yahiya Thangal was taken into custody from Thrissur, while an office-bearer of the Pathanamthitta district committee has also been detained.

The ED had earlier frozen the PFI accounts and a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was registered against the outfit in this regard. It's not known whether the raids were conducted as a follow-up of the probe in that case.

As per the PFI sources, raids were held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kannur and Kozhikode districts.

Tamil Nadu | PFI workers protest against National Investigation Agency (NIA) raid at the PFI office in Chennai pic.twitter.com/EPAEzCKJFk

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022

Claiming that the raids were an act of state-sponsored terrorism PFI state secretary A Abdul Sathar said, "The raids are being held at the residences of the national, state and local leaders. The state head office was also raided. Strong protests should come up against the Fascist government's act of using its agencies to stifle dissenting voices."

The NIA sleuths raided the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) office amid tight security. The sources from the intelligence said that the raid is mostly related to a case in Bihar where a few SDPI leaders including Riyaz Farangipete have been accused of conspiracy to disrupt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally. However the same is yet to be confirmed.

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

Meanwhile Mangaluru city police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said several SDPI and PFI activists who were protesting have been taken into custody. 

A few SDPI and PFI members protested in front of the office and condemned the raid. They shouted slogans against the BJP government. Searches are being conducted in a few other places like Kavoor, Jokatte and Uppinangady also, sources said.

PFI chairman OMA Salam, Kerala state chief CP Mohammed Basheer, national secretary VP Nazarudheen and national council member Professor P Koya were taken into custody.

The NIA also conducted searches at eight places in the Madurai city area including Villapuram, Gomatipuram, and Kulamangalam. The PFI workers protest against the raid at the PFI office in Chennai.

Tamil Nadu | NIA is conducting searches at 8 places in the Madurai city area including Villapuram, Gomatipuram, and Kulamangalam. pic.twitter.com/WxKihAMayW

— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022

(With inputs from agencies)

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/MANGALURU: As many as 106 activists of the Popular Front of India were arrested on Thursday in early morning raids by multi-agencies led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), covering around 11 states, for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country, officials said. Total of 106 PFI members arrested so far in multiple raids across 11 states including Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Karnataka (20), Kerala (22), MP (4), Maharashtra (20), Puducherry (3), Rajasthan (2), TN (10) & UP (8). The raids, taking place mainly in South India, was termed by the NIA as the "largest ever" investigation process "till date". The NIA said the searches are taking place at the premises of people allegedly involved in terror funding, organising training camps, and radicalising people to join proscribed organisations. Details of the arrested activists were not available immediately, but officials said the arrests were done by the NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police forces of 11 states so far. In a statement, the PFI said, "Raids are taking place at the homes of its national, state and local leaders. The state committee office is also being raided. We strongly protest the fascist regime's moves to use agencies to silence dissenting voices." NIA raids at various places in Hyderabad on Thursday and seized the PFI office at Chandrayangutta. (Photo | EPS)In Malappuram, the house of the national chairman OMA Salam at Manjeri and the organisation's state headquarters in Kozhikode were raided. State committee member Yahiya Thangal was taken into custody from Thrissur, while an office-bearer of the Pathanamthitta district committee has also been detained. The ED had earlier frozen the PFI accounts and a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was registered against the outfit in this regard. It's not known whether the raids were conducted as a follow-up of the probe in that case. As per the PFI sources, raids were held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kannur and Kozhikode districts. Tamil Nadu | PFI workers protest against National Investigation Agency (NIA) raid at the PFI office in Chennai pic.twitter.com/EPAEzCKJFk — ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022 Claiming that the raids were an act of state-sponsored terrorism PFI state secretary A Abdul Sathar said, "The raids are being held at the residences of the national, state and local leaders. The state head office was also raided. Strong protests should come up against the Fascist government's act of using its agencies to stifle dissenting voices." The NIA sleuths raided the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) office amid tight security. The sources from the intelligence said that the raid is mostly related to a case in Bihar where a few SDPI leaders including Riyaz Farangipete have been accused of conspiracy to disrupt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally. However the same is yet to be confirmed. 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 Meanwhile Mangaluru city police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said several SDPI and PFI activists who were protesting have been taken into custody.  A few SDPI and PFI members protested in front of the office and condemned the raid. They shouted slogans against the BJP government. Searches are being conducted in a few other places like Kavoor, Jokatte and Uppinangady also, sources said. PFI chairman OMA Salam, Kerala state chief CP Mohammed Basheer, national secretary VP Nazarudheen and national council member Professor P Koya were taken into custody. The NIA also conducted searches at eight places in the Madurai city area including Villapuram, Gomatipuram, and Kulamangalam. The PFI workers protest against the raid at the PFI office in Chennai. Tamil Nadu | NIA is conducting searches at 8 places in the Madurai city area including Villapuram, Gomatipuram, and Kulamangalam. pic.twitter.com/WxKihAMayW — ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2022 (With inputs from agencies)