Four persons linked with PFI have been detained from the Nagarbera area, Assam. (ANI)The nationwide crackdown on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its office bearers continued on Tuesday as well, during which more than 90 people allegedly linked with the outfit were detained or arrested in raids across six states.
As part of the crackdown, the officials Tuesday took into preventive custody as many as 25 local leaders belonging to both the PFI and its political offshoot the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Karnataka.
Conducted mostly by state police teams, the raids were spread across Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Assam and Madhya Pradesh.
According to news agency PTI, about 30 people were detained from different parts of Delhi.
It may be recalled that on September 22, multi-agency teams spearheaded by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 106 leaders and activists of the PFI in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country. In Karnataka alone, the NIA had arrested seven PFI leaders. “These searches were conducted at the houses and offices of top PFI leaders and members in connection with five cases registered by the NIA following continued inputs and evidence that the PFI leaders and cadres were involved in funding terrorism and terrorist activities, organising training camps for providing armed training and radicalising people to join banned organisations,” an NIA statement said.
The Madhya Pradesh police Tuesday detained 21 people over links with the PFI, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra was quoted as saying by PTI.
According to officials in Assam, of the 25 PFI activists arrested in the fresh crackdown, 10 were held in Goalpara. Besides, five were nabbed in Kamrup (Rural) and three in Dhubri, followed by arrests in Barpeta, Baksa, Darrang, Udalguri and Karimganj. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said his government has been urging the Centre to ban the outfit for allegedly creating an eco-system for terror activities.
Meanwhile, the Nashik police have arrested two persons associated with the PFI. They will be produced before a court later in the day. “Raids are going on in Malegaon town,” the Nashik Police told ANI.
Police have also arrested four activists of the PFI from different locations in Maharashtra’s Thane district for alleged anti-national activities. The arrests were made on Monday night in a joint operation carried out in the district by local police and crime branch officials, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Laxmikant Patil said.
The houses of PFI leaders in various parts of Udupi district were also raided by the police on Tuesday. Four people were taken into custody in connection with various cases during these raids, news agency PTI reported.
At least 10 people have been detained in Gujarat for questioning over links with the PFI.
Meanwhile, five PFI activists were arrested from the Kottayam and Kollam districts of Kerala for allegedly engaging in violent activities during the state-wide hartal called by the organisation on September 23 pursuant to nation-wide raids on their offices and arrests of their leaders.
(With inputs from agencies)