At least 170 people said to be linked to the Popular Front of India were detained or arrested in raids across seven states on Tuesday, five days after over 100 PFI leaders and activists were picked up during a similar crackdown in 16 states spearheaded by the National Investigation Agency.
The raids, mostly by state police teams, were conducted on Tuesday morning in six BJP-ruled states — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Assam — and in Delhi where the police report to the Centre.
The PFI, formed in Kerala in 2006 and headquartered in Delhi, claims to work for disadvantaged sections of society. But it is accused by critics of being a “radical” Islamic organisation. The organisation has been accused of mobilising terror funds, organising terror-training camps and radicalising Muslim youths.
In the national capital, Delhi police carried out raids early on Tuesday at several locations that included Nizamuddin and Shaheen Bagh — the epicentre of the anti-CAA protests two years ago — and detained 30 people, including women, associated with the PFI. Paramilitary forces were deployed in several places in the city where the raids were conducted.
While 25 people each were arrested in Assam and Maharashtra, 57 were detained in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The count of those detained in Madhya Pradesh was 21, followed by 10 in Gujarat. Several people were arrested in Karnataka as well.
Sources in the Union home ministry said the Centre was planning to ban the PFI under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act following the countrywide crackdown. The Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka governments have already written to the Centre demanding that the outfit be outlawed.
The PFI has alleged the crackdown is part of the government’s misuse of its agencies to target its opponents and accused the Centre of “witch-hunt” against its members and supporters.