NIA arrests over 100 PFI activists; raids also in Telangana, AP

HYDERABAD: More than 100 top leaders and activists of the controversial Popular Front of India (PFI) have reportedly been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as part of a nationwide crackdown that began in the early hours of Thursday. Simultaneous raids were also going on at several locations across the country including those in the two Telugu states.

In a coordinated move, the NIA is also joined by the ED and the local police in several states where the raids were being conducted and arrests made. The NIA has been conducting a series of raids over the last one week on the houses and offices of PFI leaders in connection with alleged terror links and terror funding.

In the two Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, NIA raids have been going on since early morning at various locations in Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Guntur and Kurnool. In Hyderabad, teams of NIA sleuths swooped down on the residences of PFI functionaries and activists in Uppal and Ghatkesar. In Karimnagar, simultaneous searches were going on at eight locations.

In Andhra Pradesh, NIA teams were carrying out raids in Autonagar of Guntur and in Kurnool.

In Kurnool, the NIA officials conducted raids at the houses of SDPI leaders Abdul Warris and Imthiyaz in Kadakpura area of the old city. However, the investigating agency officials had to return empty-handed as they reportedly found nothing incriminating at these houses during their searches.

It was not clear as to how many PFI activists and leaders were either arrested or detained in the two Telugu states.