NEW DELHI: The raids at the premises of the Popular Front of India (PFI) conducted earlier this week was named 'Operation Octopus',  said Sources in the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Notably,  300 officials who were forced into service, according to the sources, were all instructed to remain silent during the raids since the agencies wished to destroy the PFI's entire network. Under "Operation Octopus," more than 100 PFI members were apprehended and over 100 were arrested.

The PFI members were engaged in anti-national activities, said the Enforcement Directorate and National Investigation Agency. These raids were carried out at the homes and workplaces of prominent PFI leaders and members in connection with five cases that the NIA had opened as a result of ongoing information and proof that the organization's members were involved in funding terrorism, setting up training grounds, and radicalising people.

The NIA said, the accused were running training camps for violent and terrorist acts with the intention of inciting animosity amongst various groups based on religion.

The investigation agency claimed that PFI's criminal violence, including the amputation of a college professor's hand, the cold-blooded killing of people affiliated with groups that support other religions, the gathering of explosives to target notable individuals and locations, support for the Islamic State terror group, and the destruction of public property, had a demonstrable impact on instilling fear in the minds of the populace.

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