Popular Front of India raid: List of officials detained

The National Investigation Agency and Enforcement Directorate detained more than 100 activists of the Popular Front of India. The coordinated raids were carried out in 10 states on Thursday, including New Delhi.

Popular Front of India offices in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan also saw similar raids, news agency PTI reported.

Also Read: Popular Front of India: A brief history

While the full list of those detained by the authorities has not been revealed so far, some names were confirmed by news agency ANI. Those taken into custody in Kerala include PFI chairman OMA Salam, Kerala state chief CP Mohammed Basheer, national secretary VP Nazarudheen and national council member P. Koya.

The full list of names is awaited.

With more than 100 people detained, officials called the raids on Wednesday the “largest-ever investigation process till date.”

The ED has been investigating the Popular Front of India’s alleged “financial links” on charges of fuelling the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the country, the Delhi riots that took place in February 2020, alleged conspiracy in the Hathras (a district in Uttar Pradesh) case of alleged gang-rape and death of a Dalit woman, and a few other instances.

The people who were being searched were allegedly funding terror groups, radicalising people and organisation training camps, news agency PTI reported citing officials from the National Investigation Agency.

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How has the Popular Front of India responded?

Popular Front of India officials were quick to respond to the raids on Thursday. “We strongly protest the fascist regime’s move to use agencies to silence dissenting voices”, an official statement read.

“The raids are taking place at the homes of national, state and local leaders of PFI. The state committee office is also being raided”, the statement added.