Raids on PFI: A Non-Violent Anti-Terror Mission

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval kept the entire plan under cover on the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Doval was monitoring the mega crackdown on the PFI terror links and coordinating with states 24X7.The operation was planned three to four months in advance in consultation with Islamic leaders.

The meetings with the security agencies were conducted with the same level of confidentiality as was done before the abrogation of Article 370 in J & K.

On September 2, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was commissioning the INS Vikrant in Kochi, his security team led by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was maping out a plan to uproot the entire network of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kerala, said sources in the know of the matter.

Doval held several meetings with the police officials of Kerala to act against the PFI leaders during his visit to Kochi for the aircraft carrier commissioning. From Kerala, the NSA went to Mumbai, where he stayed in the Governor’s house and held meetings with security officials. The meetings with the security agencies were held with the same level of confidentiality as was done before the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir or the Uri surgical strike

On D-Day of the operation over 200 officers of the National Investigative Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate and anti-terror squads of no less then ten state police launched a mega crackdown on PFI terror links. Raids were conducted at over 150 locations in more than 15 states on 106 PFI leaders and members were arrested. Sources said aircraft were also kept ready on time to pick up PFI terror operatives and send them to different locations for questioning.

NSA Ajit Doval was monitoring the operation 24×7 and coordinating with states. Sources said that what’s important to note is that not a single bullet was fired during the entire operation. More such operations will be executed against the terror groups based on the information received by the agencies.