- In an attempt to crack South India’s Popular Front of India (PFI) hawala money network, the NIA on Wednesday raided 16 places.
- The action comes after there were allegations that illegal hawala money from Gulf countries was being used for the purpose of terrorist acts in the country.
- The PFI describes itself “as a non-governmental social organization whose stated objective is to work for the poor and disadvantaged people in the country and to oppose oppression and exploitation”.
- Popular Front of India is an Islamic political organization in India, that engages in a radical and exclusivist style of Muslim minority politics.
- It was banned by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs under Unlawful Activities Act on 28 September 2022 for a period of five years.
In an attempt to crack south India’s Popular Front of India (PFI) hawala money network, the NIA on Wednesday raided 16 places including Beltangadi, Puttur, Bantwala, Venura of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka. Raids were conducted on houses, offices, and on a hospital.
The action comes after there were allegations that illegal Hawala money from Gulf countries was being used for the purpose of terrorist acts in the country. It was also alleged that the network was connected with a plot to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Five persons were arrested in Patna for indulging in anti-national activities following raids in the Phulwari Sharif area, which also led to the recovery of several incriminating documents, including PFI’s ‘Mission 2047’, which allegedly had Prime Minister Narendra Modi on their radar.
Police said there are possibilities of their network in Dakshin Kannada. A team of NIA officials had come to Dakshina Kannada district on the trail of investigation.
Formed in 2006, the PFI describes itself “as a non-governmental social organization whose stated objective is to work for the poor and disadvantaged people in the country and to oppose oppression and exploitation”. Popular Front of India is an Islamic political organization in India, that engages in a radical and exclusivist style of Muslim minority politics. Formed to counter Hindutva groups, it was banned by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs under Unlawful Activities Act on 28 September 2022 for a period of five years.
More than 250 people linked to the group have been arrested during raids held on 22 September and 27 September. The searches were carried out by India’s top anti-terror agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which fights financial crimes.
The NIA said that during the searches, it seized “incriminating documents, cash, sharp-edged weapons, and a large number of digital devices”. In a statement issued after the first raid, the Popular Front of India had described the action against it as “witch hunting” and accused the NIA of making baseless claims to create “an atmosphere of terror”.
(With inputs from agencies)
