The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted extensive raids in Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuthurai and Chennai on Tuesday. The operation began at 3:30 a.m. and covered 20 locations, with 15 in Mayiladuthurai and five in Chennai. Teams from Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu joined the operation, with assistance from the Tamil Nadu Police.
The raids focused on areas linked to the banned Islamic fundamentalist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI). The Central government banned the PFI in 2022, citing its involvement in anti-national activities. The latest raids are connected to the investigation into the 2019 murder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Ramalingam in Thanjavur. Ramalingam was allegedly killed by PFI members on February 5, 2019, for opposing forced religious conversions among underprivileged communities.
The NIA had earlier filed a charge sheet against 18 individuals in this case. In past operations, the agency has targeted PFI networks in Tamil Nadu, including Thanjavur, Tiruchy, Coimbatore, Madurai, and other districts, focusing on dismantling the organisation’s remnants.
The operation also relates to the NIA’s investigation into Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT), a banned terror organisation seeking to establish an Islamic state governed by its founder Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani’s constitution. The NIA took over the HUT case from Tamil Nadu Police, who had arrested six individuals in August 2024 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In a major breakthrough, the NIA arrested HUT activist Aziz Ahamed, also known as Jaleel Aziz Ahmed, on August 31, 2024, at Bengaluru International Airport. Aziz attempted to flee the country but was apprehended based on intelligence inputs. Earlier arrests included Hameed Hussain, an engineering graduate described as the mastermind behind HUT’s recruitment efforts. Hussain actively shared videos promoting an Islamic Caliphate on social media, while criticising democratic systems.
Authorities revealed that HUT used social media platforms to radicalise youth and recruit members. Investigations uncovered attempts to undermine national security through these recruitment efforts. Earlier operations in Chennai, Kanyakumari, and Pudukottai in September 2024 also targeted HUT networks.
The NIA remains committed to dismantling these networks. The agency focuses on preventing radicalisation and safeguarding national security through ongoing investigations and coordinated efforts with local police.
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