New Delhi: Condemning the raids by NIA and ED the PFI has asserted that it will never surrender and alleged that the agency’s claims are aimed at ‘creating an atmosphere of terror’. The statement comes after probe agencies detained over 100 of its leaders. It said that the “fascist regime” had used agencies to silence those dissenting against it. In states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu workers have launched protests against the raids.
In what is being billed as the largest operation ever, the NIA and ED in coalition on Thursday morning launched massive search operations across 10 states against operatives of several suspicious groups, mainly the PFI supporting terrorism.
The officials from the probe agency have reported having detained nearly 106 PFI leaders pan India. As of now it is learnt that about 22 people have been detained in Kerala, Maharashtra (20), Karnataka (20), Tamil Nadu (10), Assam (9), Uttar Pradesh (8), Andhra Pradesh (5), Madhya Pradesh (4), Delhi (3), Rajasthan (2) and Puducherry (2) in raids against groups, including PFI, and individuals allegedly supporting terrorists. President of PFI in Delhi, Parvez Ahmed has also been detained officers added.
In the “largest ever investigation till date”, officials said the searches are taking place at the premises of those allegedly involved in terror funding, organising training camps and radicalising people to join proscribed organizations.
The ED has been investigating the PFI’s alleged “financial links” on charges of fuelling the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the country, the 2020 Delhi riots, alleged conspiracy in Hathras (a district in Uttar Pradesh) over alleged gang-rape and death of a Dalit woman, and a few other instances. It filrd two charge sheets agaisnt PFI and its office bearers before a special court in Lucknow.