Pramesh S Jain & Dr B Thomas (Special Correspondent)
In one of the biggest crackdowns on terror links, the National Investigating Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED),and police conducted raids across 10 states on Thursday.
Hours after the simultaneous raids across the state by NIA and the state police,Home Minister, Araga Jnanendra said that the investigations is first step to ban the PFI and SDPI organizations.The Central Government is taking necessary steps on this,he said.
The raids are part of the nation wide operations by NIA related to the alleged links to subversive activities and getting foreign funds to carry out their activities.
NIA raids in Bengaluru,Mangaluru and Mysuru districts on PFI,SDPI offices and residences of leaders.
This is part of a nationwide crackdown on PFI SDPI where NIA and ED are conducting simultaneous raids in 14 states.
NIA is currently investigating atleast two cases with UAPA where accused are members of PFI and SDPI-Praveen Nettaru case of 2022 and DJ Halli riots case of 2020.
Meanwhile,state police have recently registered a new Suo Motu FIR based on source based information about a criminal conspiracy to create communal disturbances in the state against members of PFI and SDPI at KG Halli PS.
The State Police are conducting raids in 8 districts across the state including-Bengaluru, Mysuru,Mangaluru,Uttara Kannada,Shivamogga, Kalaburagi,Davanagere,Raichur and Koppal
Residences,apartment and offices of PFI,SDPI leaders being raided by state police across 19 places including Bagaluru,Frazer town Tannery road,Padarayanapura and Richmond town and recovered some documents for verification .
The PFI members protested outside the apartments in Richmond town shouting go back , slogans.Tight police security have been deployed to ensure law and order .
Meanwhile the Popular Front condemns NIA and ED harassment of it’s National and State leaders
In a statement issued today,Popular Front of India’s National Executive Council (NEC) has condemned the national wide raids by the NIA & ED, the unjust arrests and the harassments of its national and state leaders across India, and the witch-hunt against the members, and supporters of the organization.
“NIA’s baseless claims and sensationalism are solely aimed at creating an atmosphere of terror.”
Popular Front will never not be intimitated by such scare tactics by a totalitarian regime by using the central agencies as its puppets.
The organization will stand firm on its stand and the struggle for recovering the democratic values and spirit of the constitution of our beloved country,” said the NEC of Popular Front.
