National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out nation-wide raids in PFI offices and leaders’ houses. One hundred and six workers and leaders have been arrested from eleven states. The highest number of arrests is from Kerala, that is 22. Twenty people each have been arrested in Maharashta and Karnataka. PFI National President Naseerudhen Elamaram, national General Secretary and Kerala State President are among them. Raids are carried out in connection with cases registered in Delhi regarding illegal funding, terrorist training and recruitment to banned outfits cases. It is linked with plot to kill PM Narendra Modi and the arrest of six terrorists.
Raids started by midnight Wednesday, September 22. Raids still continue. Raids took place Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kotayam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur ad Malappuram. PFI leader Ashraff Moulavi’s house in Poonthura (Thiruvananthapuram), Vice President Sainudheen’s house in Ernakulam, state committee member’s house in Karimpully, Palakkad, are some important places raided by NIA.
Several mobiles phones, tabs, laptops, and documents, etc. have been recovered by NIA. The materials and all arrested people are brought to the Kochi office of NIA. They will be taken to Delhi soon.
As soon as raids carried out, PFI workers have taken to the streets to protest. They have blocked the national highways; attacked and demolished BJP office in Mancherry, Malappuram district. They have declared a hartal tomorrow from 6 am to 6 pm in Kerala in protest against the raids and arrests of their leaders.
Meanwhile Home Minister Amit Shah has held a high level meeting of NSA Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, NIA Director General Dinkar Gupta and other top officials who look after the national security matters at Delhi. Observers believe that there is every chance for banning the terrorist oganisation immediately.
