The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on February 5 arrested two persons from Bihar’s Motihari district in connection with its ongoing probe into the Phulwari Sharif terror module case linked to the Popular Front of India (PFI) conspiracy.
The arrests were made after the probe agency conducted raids at eight locations to disrupt a conspiracy hatched by PFI cadres to carry out targeted killing in East Champaran District in Bihar on February 4. The arrested persons were identified as Tanveer Raza alias Barkati and Md Abid alias Aryan, both residents of the East Champaran district.
As per the NIA, the accused had arranged weapons and ammunition to carry out the targeted killings.
“NIA has arrested two accused today who had arranged weapons and ammunition to carry out the killing. Recce had already been conducted to execute a target,” the NIA said in a statement.
“The arms and ammunition had been handed over to a PFI Trainer, Yakoob, who had been conducting Training Sessions for PFI cadres,” the NIA added.
A few days ago, Yakoob, the PFI trainer, had posted a derogatory and inflammatory Facebook video post, which was aimed at disturbing peace and communal harmony. Other users of Facebook had commented and trolled this post abusively.
The absconding accused Yakoob and two arrested accused had identified some of them and had conspired to execute the killing the of targeted person.
“The raids and arrests were made in NIA case, which pertains to the involvement of PFI and its leaders and cadres in violent and unlawful activities, who had assembled for that purpose in the Phulwari Sharif area of Patna,” NIA said.
“With these arrests, a PFI module planning targeted killing and disrupting communal harmony has been unearthed and busted,” the agency said.
Earlier, four persons were arrested and several incriminating articles and documents related to PFI were seized in the instant case.
During the searches conducted on February 4, multiple digital devices were seized.
The case was initially registered on July 12, 2022, at Police Station Phulwari Sharif and re-registered by NIA on July 22, 2022.
During investigations, accused persons Athar Parvej, Md Jalaluddin Khan, Nooruddin Zangi and Arman Malick were arrested for their involvement in the instant case. “Investigations revealed that the criminal conspiracy was hatched with an intention to carry out acts of terror and violence, leading to an atmosphere of terror and endangering the unity and integrity of the nation,” the NIA said in the chargesheet.
In furtherance of their conspiracy, the chargesheet mentioned, the accused arranged rented accommodation in Ahmad Palace, Phulwarisharif, and used its premises for imparting training in the commission of acts of violence, and holding criminal conspiracy meetings.
“The accused also collected funds, recruited members, organized trainings and encouraged its members to establish Islamic Rule in India,” the chargesheet said. Further investigations in the case are in progress.
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