Based on credible evidence and intelligence inputs, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Directorate of Law Enforcement and State Police conducted pan-India raids in 13 states against PFI, SDPI management and cadres for activities related to terrorism and terrorist financing. The raid began at 3.30 am and reports suggest that the NIA arrested 40 PFI leaders. According to top government officials, states in which the raids were conducted include Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry, Assam, Rajasthan.
While the Home Ministry is expected to come out with a detailed press release on the nationwide raids, NIA officials are examining the results of the raid and will file charges against the arrested PFI leaders. Apart from the NIA and the state police, the PFI and its political wing SDPI have also come down hard. While the raids were led by DG NIA Dinkar Gupta, full intelligence support was provided by internal and external security agencies. The raids are the result of a coordinated effort between law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
All concerned agency heads have been working since last night and are clearing the roadblock at the last minute,” said a senior police officer. The People’s Front of India (PFI) and its political wing Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) were the focus of the Ministry of Home Affairs as intelligence inputs indicated that the radical Islamist organization was illegally funded from West Asian countries, particularly Qatar, Kuwait. , Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
The funds were used not only for terrorist activities across the country, but also for the radicalization of youth. The organization had links with pan-Islamist organizations such as the Muslim Brotherhood and had plans to become the face of Islam in India. The core leadership of PFI-SDPI is essentially from the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) whose main objective was to establish an Islamic Caliphate in India.
Although an ultra-conservative Sunni organization, the PFI was expected to be the leader of all Muslims in India, including Sufis, Barelvis and Deobandis. Houses housing PFI offices were raided at several places in Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Ramnad, Dindugal, Theni and Thenkasi. A search is also underway at PFI’s Chennai state headquarters in Purasawakkam. The Assam Police arrested nine PFI-linked persons across the state after conducting a joint operation in Guwahati’s Hatigaon area.
Earlier this month, the NIA conducted searches at 38 locations in Telangana and two locations in Andhra Pradesh in a case involving Abdul Khader of Telangana’s Nizamabad district and 26 others. In the operation, the NIA seized incriminating materials including digital devices, documents, two daggers and ₹8,31,500 in cash.
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