PFI Calls 'Bandh' In Kerala On Friday To Protest Against Raids By Central Agencies
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the residences and offices of PFI workers across 11 states on Thursday.
The Popular Front of India (PFI) has called a dawn-to-dusk bandh in Kerala on Friday in protest against raids carried out by multiple central agencies in their organisation's offices and houses of leaders. The bandh will be held from 6 am to 6 pm. Basic and essential services have been excluded from the shutdown.
"A hartal will be observed in the state on September 23 against the RSS-controlled fascist government's attempt to silence dissenting voices using the central agencies," A Abdul Sathar, state general secretary, PFI, said.
Addressing a press conference, Abdul Sathar said the central investigating agencies were trying to create a smoke screen against the outfits that have been functioning in a democratic manner.
"Through such deeds, the Centre is actually indulging in anti-constitutional activities. The public society should raise its voice against such practices to protect the country," PTI quoted Sathar as saying.
He said PFI would take legal steps after consulting with the national leadership.
The development comes after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the residences and offices of PFI workers across 11 states and arrested over 100 people for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.
READ | NIA, ED And Police Arrest 106 PFI Workers Across 11 States In 'Largest Ever Anti-Terror Operation'
As soon as NIA and ED started searches in Kerala in the morning, PFI workers took out marches to the places where the raids were being carried out and raised slogans against the Narendra Modi government.
Protests were held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Thrissur, PTI reported.
In Kerala, 22 office-bearers of the PFI, including national, state and district leaders, were taken into custody by the central agencies.
PFI state president CP Mohammed Basheer, national chairman OMA Salam, national secretary Nasaruddin Elamaram and others were among take in custody
The maximum number of arrests were made in Kerala (22) followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each). In Tamil Nadu, 10 arrests were made, followed by Assam (9), Uttar Pradesh (8), Andhra Pradesh (5), Madhya Pradesh (4), Delhi (3), Puducherry (3), and Rajasthan (2).
The ED has been investigating the PFI's alleged financial links in connection with the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the country, the 2020 Delhi riots and alleged conspiracy in Hathras over alleged gang-rape and death of a Dalit woman.
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