NIA raids over 50 locations in Kerala in PFI conspiracy case

KOCHI: National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths on Thursday conducted raids across Kerala in connection with the case against the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and its former leaders.
According to sources, the raids are being carried out in multiple districts including Muvattupuzha and Aluva in Ernakulam.

According to sources, the raids began on Thursday and were being held at over 50 locations in districts including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Palakkad and Malappuram. The central agency has taken assistance from the state police as well in the searches.

NIA had recently submitted a report before the NIA special court in Kochi about the progress of investigation in the case against PFI leaders for unlawful activities. The report had said that the agency, during investigation, found a secret wing of PFI that collects details of leaders from other communities. It said that PFI committed various murders to create terror in the minds of a particular community.
NIA had conducted similar simultaneous raids before the central government declared PFI and its affiliates as an unlawful association and arrested its main leaders.
The agency had submitted before the court in the remand report of the then arrested persons that documents seized through raids contained highly incriminating materials related to the targeting of prominent leaders of a particular community.
The PFI, its office bearers, members and affiliates in Kerala have conspired to indulge in unlawful activities, by creating enmity between members of different religions and groups, prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, with intention to disrupt public tranquillity and cause disaffection against India, NIA had then submitted before the court.