New Delhi: In the largest ever anti-terror operation, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the residences and offices of PFI workers across 11 states and arrested 106 persons for allegedly being involved in anti-national activities.
Of the 106 arrests made across 11 states, the maximum number of arrests were made in Kerala (22) followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each), Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Madhya Pradesh (4), Puducherry (3), Tamil Nadu (10), Uttar Pradesh (8) and Rajasthan (2).
Details of the arrested activists were not available immediately, but officials said the arrests were done by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the police forces of 11 states so far.
The officials said the searches are taking place at the premises of persons involved in terror funding, organizing training camps, and radicalizing 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, and the 2020 Delhi riots.
The activists raised slogans against the Central government and squatted on the road in front of PFI offices and homes of leaders where the raids were on.
Officials said the inspections were part of a wide-ranging NIA and ED investigation into PFI activities across the country, including training, muster rolls, and funding.
(Vinayak)