New Delhi:The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday launched fresh raids on the cadres of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in multiple states across the country, sources said. It is learnt that the fresh raids have been launched at more than a dozen locations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Goa and Madhya Pradesh.
The locations include 12 in Bihar, two in Uttar Pradesh and one each in Punjab's Ludhiana and Goa, sources said. In Bihar, a raid was launched at the premises of one Dr Sarik Raza, a dentist based in the Urdu Bazaar of Darbhanga city and one Mehboob, a resident of Shankarpur village in Singhwara police station area, in connection with the banned organisation PFI.
The NIA also raided a location in Motihari at the Kuanwa village of Chakia subdivision in the East Champaran district, sources said. They said that a raid is being conducted at one Sajjad Ansari's residence in a case related to PFI. Sajjad is working in Dubai for the last 14 months as per sources. During the searches at his house, the NIA team has confiscated Sajjad's Aadhaar card, PAN card and some documents from his residence, sources added.
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Besides Bihar, similar raids were launched at the premises of suspected PFI associates in MP, UP, Punjab and Goa, sources said. It can be recalled that in September, the Union Home Ministry had declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates an 'Unlawful Association'. The PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts were accused to have been involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional set-up of the country, disturbing public order etc. which are prejudicial to the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country.
The Home Ministry said it found it necessary to curb the nefarious activities of the organization. It declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) along with its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as "unlawful association" under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
