Chennai, Sept 22( BPNS)

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) which is on a nationwide raid in the offices of the Islamist organization Popular Front of India (PFI) has taken into custody senior leaders of the organization. The arrested include Dindigul Zonal Secretary, Yassar Arafat (28), Cuddalore district secretary, Fayaz Ahmad (36), and National Executive member of the PFI, A.S. Ismail from Coimbatore.

Sources in the NIA told BPNS that more people are in custody but refused to share the details. It is to be noted that the premier investigating agency has arrested 106 people across the country after raids conducted in 11 states in the country at the office premises of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the residences of leaders.

The arrested will be brought to the NIA Tamil Nadu head office in Chennai and will be conducted medical tests and produced before the court. It is not known whether the arrested will be charged with The Unlawful Activities ( Prevention ) Amendment Act (UAPA) or other sections of the IPC.

NIA sources told BPNS that some of the leaders may be taken to the national headquarters of the agency in New Delhi.

It is to be noted that the raids that were conducted in the wee hours of Thursday were with the support of the Central Police Force sleuths without informing the respective state police units.

Heavy police protection is provided at the NIA Tamil Nadu head office in Chennai as the Popular Front of India has announced a protest march towards the office.

According to information available, the raids were following the inputs the NIA received on the alleged terror funding by the PFI as also the list prepared by the cadres and local leaders of the organization to eliminate Hindu activists. The raid conducted after the murder of RSS leader Sreenivasan at Palakkad has given the NIA certain details regarding the modus operandi of the PFI.