The National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched six locations in four districts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday as part of its ongoing investigation into the banned terror outfit Popular Front of India (PFI). According to sources, searches are underway in the districts of Madurai, Chennai, Dindigul, and Theni. In close collaboration with Tamil Nadu Police, multiple NIA teams conducted these searches at the suspects’ residential and other premises. On September 19, last year, the NIA filed the case.
Last year, the NIA also conducted searches on the premises of arrested accused persons in various locations throughout Tamil Nadu, seizing numerous incriminating documents, articles, and digital devices. The new raids were carried out nearly five months after the NIA apprehended the tenth accused in the case.
On December 14, last year, the NIA arrested one Umar Sheriff R alias Umar Juice, 43, of Sungam Pallivasal Street, Nelpettai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, for conspiring and engaging in unlawful activities such as inciting hatred among different religious groups and carrying out activities detrimental to communal harmony with the intent to disrupt public peace and tranquillity and cause disaffection against India.
According to NIA investigations, Umar Sheriff organised several physical training courses, classes, and demonstrations with deadly weapons for PFI cadres in Madurai in order to achieve the outfit’s goal. The trained cadres were to attack targets chosen by PFI leaders at the district and state levels.
The NIA previously stated that Umar Juice, Swords, Spears, Kattari, curled blades (Surul), metal Chains, Shields, Nunchakus, and knives were recovered from his house based on his disclosures. So far, ten people have been arrested in connection with this case.
Notably, the PFI and its numerous affiliates were declared an ‘unlawful association’ by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in September last year after their involvement in violent activities was discovered during investigations conducted by various state police units and national agencies.
