NIA, ED And Police Arrest 106 PFI Workers Across 11 States In 'Largest Ever Anti-Terror Operation'

Of the 106 arrests made across 11 states, officials took 22 PFI workers from Kerala, 20 from Maharashtra and 20 from Karnataka into Custody

In the largest ever anti-terror operation, National Investigation Agency (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 arrests made across 11 states, the maximum number of arrests were made in Kerala (22) followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each), Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Madhya Pradesh (4), Puducherry (3), Tamil Nadu (10), Uttar Pradesh (8) and Rajasthan (2).

Here's the list:

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

Details of the arrested activists were not available immediately, but officials said the arrests were done by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police forces of 11 states so far.

The officials said the searches are taking place at the premises of persons involved in terror funding, organising training camps, and radicalising people to join proscribed organisations.

The Popular Front of India (PFI), in a statement, said, "The raids are taking place at the homes of national, state and local leaders of PFI. The state committee office is also being raided.

"We strongly protest the fascist regime's move to use agencies to silence dissenting voices," it said.

The ED has been investigating the PFI's alleged "financial links" on charges of fuelling the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in the country, the 2020 Delhi riots, alleged conspiracy in Hathras (a district in Uttar Pradesh) over alleged gang-rape and death of a Dalit woman, and a few other instances.

(With PTI inputs)