New Delhi: A second round of Operation Octopus in underway as NIA conducts raid across 8 different states on the radical outfit- PFI. States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi are the under the scanner in the second round of the probe agency strategy.
PFI- The Popular Front of India- a minority organization for Muslims- has been accused of terror funding, providing weapons training to Muslim youth, and radicalising them to join terrorist organisations.
Under the operation being conducted in collaboration with the state police, four PFI activists from Mumbra for allegedly indulging in unlawful activities, promoting enmity among communities, and waging a war against the country have been detained. 40 PFI members jn Karnataka were taken into custody. More than 75 PFI and SDPI workers and leaders were also taken into preventive custody in Karnataka, anticipating violent protests.
In Assam, the DGP in coalition with the probe agency nabbed four persons linked to the radical outfit
PFI formed in 2006, came under the scanner of central agencies after its members chopped off the hand of a college professor in Kerala for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
The arrests are sought under PAR (Preventive Action Report). As per the act, they should give bond surety in front of local tehsildar to not engage into any illegal activities and cause communal disharmony. No FIR has been registered so far.
Earlier on Thursday (September 22), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at multiple locations against PFI at 93 locations in 15 states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur. Over 100 PFI members were detained during the search.