NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out raids at several places linked to the members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in more than eight states. More than 50 persons, according to sources, have been held, and the arrests will depend on the results of their interrogation.

Raids were being conducted in the Maharashtrian districts of Aurangabad, Jalana, and Parbhani; the Karnataka districts of Simoga, Bidar, Ballari, Hubli, and Kalburgi; the Assamese district of Nagarbera; the Bulandshahr, Kasba Syana, Sarurpur, and Lisari Gate area of Meerut in Western Uttar Pradesh; and various locations in Delhi. The raids continued after beginning early on Tuesday.

According to NIA sources, in a few places, the local police were conducting raids on their orders. Assam's Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Special Branch), Hiren Nath, reported that five PFI members from the Nagarbera region have been taken into custody. According to the DGP, there have been raids in numerous Assam districts. 

In a recent raid, the NIA detained up to 11 people. The police have detained four people in Western Uttar Pradesh.
"They are being grilled. No memos for arrest have yet been submitted against any of them. They belong to PFI. After questioning previously detained PFI members, we received new information and are conducting raids" source said.
The operations in the Maharashtra districts of Aurangabad, Jalana, and Parbhani were carried out by the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and the local police. "Raids are ongoing in the Karnataka regions of Simoga, Bidar, Ballari, Hubli, and Kalburgi. Six people have been held in the Kolar area, five in Simoga, four in Ballari, two in Hubli. PFI's media coordinator in Kalburgi and the president of the Bidar district have both been detained " the source added. Raids were  also being conducted in Nizamuddin, Rohini, Jamia, and Shahin Bagh in Delhi.

After the NIA obtained new information while questioning the PFI members who had been arrested, raids were carried out. Over 106 PFI members were detained earlier this week by the NIA and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). On Monday, lookout circulars were also issued for two PFI members. The NIA is now looking into 19 PFI-related incidents in total.

The NIA said, 46 suspects were detained and ultimately found guilty between 2010 and 2011. The agency has already filed chargesheets against over 355 PFI members.

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