PFI’s Madurai district president detained by NIA

The National Investigation Agency has detained the Madurai Regional President of the banned organisation, Popular Front of India.

The arrested person has been identified as Mohammad Qaiser. He was arrested from Pazhani in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, sources tell OneIndia.

The NIA has been conducting raids across various locations and cracking down on members of the PFI.

The NIA is conducting raids at multiple locations in Tamil Nadu in connection with the PFI. Raids are taking place in Chennai and 10 other districts. Raids are also underway in Madurai, Theni, Coimbatore and Trichy, sources said.

The source also added that a top leader of the SDPI, the political wing of the PFI is also being raided. Over 8 places linked to the leaders of the PFI are being raided, an official also said.

This is part of the ongoing action against the PFI, following its ban in September 2022. The Union Home Ministry had banned the PFI under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Last week the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) conducted raids in Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad and other cities across Uttar Pradesh.

During the raids, two accused identified as Parvez Ahmed and Rais Ahmed carrying a bounty of Rs 50,000 each were arrested from Varanasi, a press note read. The note further added that 70 persons have been detained for their alleged links with the PFI.