Kochi: Reports say that the Popular Front of India (PFI) is keeping its hit squads active even after a ban was imposed on the terror group by the Central Government. Youths, who are attracted to religious fundamentalism, comprise the cadre of the hit squads. Central intelligence agencies have found different areas where these hit-squads have conducted secret meetings and trainings.
There is information that the PFI has conducted clandestine meetings in the strong holds of the banned organization. The areas include Edavanakkad, where hit-squad trainer, Muhammad Mubarak, hails from. Secret meetings were also held at Kunjunikara in Aluva and places like Perumbavoor and Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district.
The Kerala police’s sloppiness in keeping track of PFI cadres and their activities paved a smooth way for the banned organization to go forward with their activities. The second and third rung leaders of PFI had conducted secret meetings at many places across Kerala. However, the Kerala police failed to track or nab them.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) came to know that the PFI hit-squads were still active after questioning Saheer, who was arrested in connection with PFI’s anti-national and murder cases. The agency has strengthened its efforts to nab the other accused in these cases.
The hit-squads were formed by the PFI to target leaders and activists of national political organizations. The members of the hit-squads that attacked and killed RSS Karyakartha A Sreenivasan in Palakkad and RSS worker Nandhu, had received training in use of lethal weapons.
The NIA received crucial information after questioning PFI’s chief weapons trainer, Muhammad Mubarak and from Muhammad Sadik, who passed on information to these hit-squads.
The NIA is also questioning Saheer, who had taken part in the killing of Sreenivasan. According to Saheer, the PFI is actively maintaining the hit-squads even after the ban. Saheer’s custody will end on Tuesday.
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