NIA Blames PFI for Recruiting and Radicalizing Global Terror Groups

Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA), while seeking remand of the denounced arrested on Thursday in its very first mega operation against the Popular Front of India (PFI), on Friday asserted that office conveyors, members, and cadres of the organization along with others were engaged with radicalizing and recruiting Muslim youths to join forbidden organizations like the Islamic State (ISIS).

In a massive crackdown on the PFI, multi-agency teams led by the NIA had arrested 106 leaders and activists of the radical Islamic outfit in near-simultaneous strikes in 15 states for purportedly supporting terror activities in the country.

The NIA in its report submitted in Kerala’s Kochi special court on what are the purposes behind the raids and the arrests after it raids, likewise claimed that the accused contrived to indulge in unlawful activities making religious enmity. The agency stated that the outfit is purportedly causing disaffection against India and propagating an alternative justice delivery system.

As indicated by the NIA, the organization encourages vulnerable youth to join terrorist organizations including Lashkar-e-Taiba, ISIS, and al-Qaeda. It added that the PFI conspired to establish an Islamic rule in India by committing terrorist acts as a part of violent Jihad.

The NIA uncovered that during the raids on Thursday, the detectives seized a few implicating materials from the offices of the PFI. “The seized documents also contain highly incriminating materials related to the targeting of prominent leaders of a particular community. The Hit List seized shows that PFI which is working through its leaders, members, and associates have gone far ahead in creating atrocities among the communities,” it said. “More investigation is required in this aspect not only to obtain more evidence but also to prevent blood bath in the society,” it added.

The NIA charge sheet names 14 accused, with PFI as prime denounced in the case. The NIA asserted that the strike was announced on Friday in Kerala to avoid the arrest of PFI state general secretary Abdul Sathar and state secretary CA Rouf.

Upwards of 500 people were arrested and 400 others put under preventive detainment on Friday in connection with violent protests during the 12-hour strike called by the PFI to protest the arrest of the organization’s chiefs.

The protests also saw stone pelting at an RSS office in Mattannur in Kannur, police said. Additional director general of police (ADGP), Law and Order, Vijay Sakhare told news agency ANI that 500 people had been arrested so far regarding the protests. The ADGP also gave details of another incident where arrests were made for carrying an explosive device.