NIA Attaches One Of PFI's Oldest And Largest Arms Training Centres In Kerala

In a case launched last year, the NIA issued a charge sheet on March 17 against 59 suspects, including the PFI as an entity.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached one of the oldest and largest weaponry and physical training institutes of the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kerala, according to an official, news agency PTI reported. According to a federal agency spokesperson, this is the sixth PFI weaponry training camp and the 18th property of the organisation to be attached in Kerala as 'proceeds of terrorism' under the terms of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

In a case launched last year, the NIA issued a charge sheet on March 17 against 59 suspects, including the PFI as an entity.

"As part of its continuing investigations in the case, NIA has now attached this training centre spread over 10 hectares. The Green Valley Academy, Manjeri, Kerala is managed by ‘Green Valley Foundation’ (GVF) and was used by the cadres of National Development Front and subsequently by the PFI into which it merged," the spokesperson was quoted by PTI in its report.

The PFI has been utilising the property to provide arms training, physical training, and training on the usage and testing of explosives to its cadres, according to the agency.

"The facility was also used to harbour several ‘PFI Service Wing’ members after they committed crimes, including murders. The centre was further being used to impart radical and rabid type of ideological training in PFI’s divisive and communal agenda and policies to its trained operatives, cadres and members," the spokesperson said.

According to the agency, PFI and its frontal organisations were operating from these facilities under the pretext of educational organisations.

Malabar House, Periyar Valley, Valluvanad House, Karunya Charitable Trust, and Trivandrum Education and Service Trust (TEST) were the five additional PFI training institutions previously attached by NIA in Kerala.

Another 12 PFI offices have been connected, which are used occasionally by the outfit's leadership to coordinate instruction in weaponry and physical training, ideological propagation, and training for the commission of different crimes, including murders and terrorist activities.

"NIA investigations have revealed that the PFI has been running many such training centres in the guise of charitable and educational trusts formed by the organisation’s members or leaders. Investigations have also revealed that the PFI had hired several buildings for running their training camps and activities relating to terror and violence," the spokesperson said.