Kochi: The NIA conducted a wide-ranging investigation following a tip-off that the Popular Front of India (PFI) was active even after being banned.
Central intelligence agencies had reported that active covert operations were being carried out, including through social media groups. Unlike the raid conducted in September, this time the raid was with the cooperation of the Kerala Police in most of the centers. The raid started from 2 am. Officials returned before 10 am in most of the centres.
Mubarak was an early activist
Kochi – Locals say that Muhammad Mubarak, who was taken into NIA custody, was an early activist of the Popular Front. He graduated in law and practiced in the High Court. Some cases related to the organization were dealt with. His wife is also a lawyer. Karate and kung fu were being trained in the country. Recently started a unit to produce organic coconut oil in collaboration with another.
A ten-member NIA team arrived at Mubarak’s house at 4 am. After being interrogated there, the house was thoroughly inspected. Mubarak’s parents, wife and child were in the house. The inspection lasted till 9 o’clock.
Then the group returned with Mubarak. The family says that the propaganda that money and deadly weapons were recovered from the house is not true.
It is alleged that information was leaked in Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta ∙ It is alleged that the information about the NIA raid at the house of the former leaders of the Popular Front in the district was leaked. However, the police denied this.
When the NIA officials reached the houses, the 3 leaders were not there. The search was carried out at the houses of Thiruvananthapuram’s former regional secretary Muhammad Rashid, Nisar who was a member of the state committee, and Sajeev, a native of Pazhakulam who was the district leader. Rashid left the house just before the NEAA team’s vehicle arrived. A laptop, 3 pen drives and 4 books were recovered from here and a mobile phone and a bag containing PFI publications were recovered from Nissar’s house.
Meanwhile, the family alleged that another house in Pazhakulam was searched in the name of Sajeev’s house. Ayathikonil Sajeev, who was the district leader of the Popular Front, used to live on rent near here. The policemen who went with the NIA team say that the house was broken into but they do not know anything about it.
English Summary: NIA raid in Popular Front office