Coimbatore : “The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) raided eight offices of Popular Front of India (PFI) in Trichy, Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur and Karaikal and three locations of Tauheed Jamaat offices on Thursday morning, to ascertain any Indian links with the Sri Lanka blasts that killed more than 253 persons on Easter Sunday.
Coimbatore : “The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) raided eight offices of Popular Front of India (PFI) in Trichy, Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur and Karaikal and three locations of Tauheed Jamaat offices on Thursday morning, to ascertain any Indian links with the Sri Lanka blasts that killed more than 253 persons on Easter Sunday.
Condemning the raids, the President of PFI, Mohammed Ismail met the press here on Friday to clarify the allegations imposed on them. "Earlier, they alleged us for converting Hadia to other religion in 2017. As they were unable to prove the allegations in the Supreme Court, now, they are trying to avenge us due to political pressure", alleged Mohammed Ismail.
He also noted that "Well ahead of the raids, the NIA alerted the press to create unrest among people. Condemning the NIA's act, we will be staging protests in Trichy, Thanjavur and Karaikal. NIA is a failed agency and it should be dissolved."
"We highly condemn the multiple bombings in Sri lanka. During the raid, no weapons were found in any our branch offices", he noted.
"Our organisation was the first to condemn Thirubuvanam Ramalingam murder in February and there is no place in our organization for violence. Close to six murders has been reported at Nagapattinam and Thanjavur in sync with the Ramalingam’s murder timeline. But, no investigation was ordered", he said.
The President of PFI also cited the case of Swami Asimananda and alleged that NIA has been acting in a biased manner against Muslims. And, that they will approach the legal system to seek justice.
The NIA began investigation at PFI after the arrest of 29-year-old Riyas Aboobacker. NIA suspects presence of Islamic State sleeper cells operating in Tamil Nadu, under the cover of Popular Front of India promoting Tauheed Jamaat ideologies in India.
Riyaz Aboobacker, who hails from Muthalamada in Palakad district of Kerala, was arrested earlier this week. According to NIA, he has admitted to following Sri Lankan bomber Zahran Hashim and Zakir Naik. He was planning to carry out a suicide attack.