6 people detained in Pune over links with PFI

The Pune police have detained six people linked to the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political wing Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), an official said on Tuesday.

The prevention action under Criminal Procedure Code Section 151(3) has been taken in the backdrop of the recent crackdown on the PFI by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), senior police inspector Sardar Patil from Kondhwa police station said.

”We have detained six people linked to the PFI and SDPI from Kondhwa area in Pune city on Tuesday morning as part of maintenance of law and order here,” he said. More than 90 people allegedly linked with the PFI were detained or arrested in raids across six states on Tuesday, the crackdown coming five days after similar pan India searches against the group often accused of being linked to radical Islam.

Conducted mostly by state police teams, the raids were spread across Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Assam and Madhya Pradesh.

On September 22, multi-agency teams spearheaded by the NIA arrested 106 leaders and activists of the PFI in 15 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country. The NIA is investigating 19 cases involving the PFI.