Probing PFI’s terror links: Over 200 NIA officers planned crackdown on radical outfit

New Delhi: In one of ‘biggest ever’ crackdown on terror operations, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) teams on Thursday conducted raids at multiple locations across the country. Most notable among them were multiple offices of radical group Popular Front of India (PFI) and also some individuals for alleged terror links.

In the multi-agency raids across 12 states, the sleuths arrested more than 100 PFI activists along with top leaders of the outfit for their alleged support to terror activities.

According to reports, the midnight operation was planned & executed by over 200 NIA officers along with support of state police as well as Paramilitary forces amounting to thousand in numbers.

Prior to the midnight crackdown, a top level meeting happened between the Home Ministry officials and top officials of the central agency. A control command centre was set up at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for co-ordinating & monitoring the action on outfits with alleged terror links. While the sleuths swooped down on the suspects, the six control rooms monitored and guided the activity of NIA team.

In the raids, more than 100 PFI activists have been held while its top leaders have also been detained. Reports suggest that more than 150 mobile phones, over 50 laptops and various incriminating documents have been seized from the suspects.

Before conducting nation-wide searches, the NIA & ED sleuths reportedly conducted reccee of the suspects for more than a week.

For conducting the raids, senior officers moved to cities in the intervening night of Wednesday & Thursday and stared operations in the wee hours today.

Meanwhile, the PFI has issued strong protest to NIA & ED raids at homes of national & state leaders.

“We strongly protest the fascist regime’s move to misuse agencies for targeting the dissenting voices,” it said in a statement.