Thiruvananthapuram | The National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided the centers of the banned organization Popular Front and detained five people. Mubarak, a native of Edavanakkad, Ernakulam, Popular Front leader Zulfi, his brother Sudhir, and Salim, a worker from Karamana, were arrested in a raid on the leader’s residence in Vitura, Thiruvananthapuram.
The raids took place at 56 centers, including the houses of Popular Front activists, including state committee members, zonal office bearers, sports and weapons trainers and weapons trainees. The investigation was related to a case registered in Kochi for terrorist activities.
The inspection was conducted at 13 places in Ernakulam Rural. Inspections were conducted at four places in Alappuzha and three in Thiruvananthapuram. There were four raids in Malappuram and three raids in Pathanamthitta. Inspections were conducted at two places, Kollam and Kozhikode. Palakkad and Mannarkkad were also inspected.
There are reports that weapons, mobile phones and documents were seized from various places during the search. In all districts except Idukki and Kasaragod, the inspection began from 2 am.
The inspection was led by senior officials from Delhi. NIA DySP: RK Pandey led the raid. This is the first time the NIA has conducted a state-wide raid since the ban on PFI. The raid was also based on reports that the Popular Front continued to operate clandestinely even after being banned.