Over 30 activists arrested in Delhi : Another crackdown launched on Popular Front of India activists across states

Raids on in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi; over 200 PFI leaders arrested or detained across 7 states so far, say officials

In near-simultaneous raids across the length and breadth of the country on September 22, a multi-agency operation spearheaded by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) led to the arrest of 106 PFI activists in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country: File picture

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Another round of a nationwide crackdown on establishments linked to the Popular Front of India began on Tuesday across several states, including New Delhi and Assam, days after multiple agencies conducted similar raids and arrested over 100 top leaders and functionaries of the Islamic outfit.

On Tuesday, according to PTI and several television news channels, investigating agencies were conducting operations across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Delhi.

Police have arrested four PFI activists from Maharashtra. In Delhi, 30 people were detained in connection with the crackdown on PFI, police sources told PTI. As many as 25 PFI activists were arrested in Assam while several other activists were detained after search operations in urban and rural areas of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka early on Tuesday.

At least 10 people detained in Gujarat for questioning over links with PFI, police officials told PTI. Madhya Pradesh Police detain 21 people over links with Popular Front of India, said State Home Minister Narottam Mishra.

Police arrested four PFI activists from different locations in Maharashtra's Thane district for alleged anti-national activities, an official said on Tuesday in Thane in Maharashtra.

The arrests were made on Monday night in a joint operation carried out in the district by local police and crime branch officials, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Laxmikant Patil said. Two of the activists were nabbed from Mumbra and one each from Kalyan and Bhiwandi towns, he said without elaborating.

Police arrested 25 PFI activists in Tuesday's fresh crackdown in Assam, officials said.

In Karnataka, PFI leaders were taken into custody from Mangaluru, Ullal, Talapady and other areas in DK district. Preventive detention cases have been filed against them under sections 107 and 151 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) against the detained leaders, police sources said.

Five PFI leaders were taken into custody by the Udupi district police in raids conducted in their houses. Sources said raids were conducted at Hoode, Gangolli, Byndoor and Adi Udupi. The detained persons are from Byndoor and from Adi Udupi.

The PFI, formed in 2006, claims to strive for a neo-social movement ostensibly for the empowerment of marginalised sections of India, and is often accused by law enforcement agencies of promoting radical Islam

In near-simultaneous raids across the length and breadth of the country on September 22, a multi-agency operation spearheaded by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) led to the arrest of 106 PFI activists in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested 20 PFI members from different parts of the state in the multi-agency raids.

On Monday, the ATS arrested one more PFI activist from Nanded in Marathwada region. The ATS on Monday told a court in Mumbai that it wanted to probe the links of five of the 20 people arrested last week with organisations including Al Qaeda and the Islamic State and also investigate the electronic evidence.

The ATS said it has recovered some literature and a book titled 'Who Killed Karkare' from one of the accused and seized his laptop and phone.