Maharashtra Intelligence Unit Alerts Agencies Of Pune Being PFI’s ‘Hub’ Amid NIA Raids Across 11 States

Maharashtra ATS conducted a large number of raids in multiple districts across the state registering four offences under IPC and UAPA in Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, and Nanded.

NIA officeras during a raid at the residence of a SDPI leader in Kerala's Pathanamthitta on September 22, 2022. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Maharashtra’s Intelligence Department has alerted investigation agencies that the Popular Front of India has made Pune as its “hub” for carrying out various activities where many training programmes are being run, sources told ABP News. Besides the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Jalna and Aurangabad districts, the PFI has been running its membership drive, which the Intelligence Department has asked to pay attention to, the sources added. 

Meanwhile the National Investigation Agency (NIA)has shared its input saying that it received information about suspected role of Tablighi Jamaat and Jamiat Ulama e Hind  in the murder case of Umesh Kolhe in Amravati during interrogation of the accused. 

Early in the morning today, the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) Maharashtra conducted a large number of raids in multiple districts across the state. Searches were conducted in Aurangabad, Pune, Kolhapur, Beed, Parbhani, Nanded, Jalgaon, Jalna, Malegaon, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Mumbai.

Four offences have been registered in Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, and Nanded under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for indulging in unlawful activities promoting enmity amongst communities and for conspiring to wage war against the State. So far twenty accused associated with PFI have been arrested, as per the sources. 

In “largest ever anti-terror operation” the 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 people arrested by the agencies from 11 states, maximum number of arrests were made from Kerala with 22 people followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each), Tamil Nadu (10), Assam (9), Uttar Pradesh (8), Andhra Pradesh (5), Madhya Pradesh (4), Delhi and Puducherry (3 each), and Rajasthan (2). 

According to the officials, the arrests were made during the raids which have been termed as the "largest-ever investigation process till date".