As the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids on the residences of several leaders of the banned orgainisation Popular Front of India (PFI) across Kerala, the absence of PFI leaders in some locations raided by the Central agency has raised the suspicion that somebody has leaked the information about the raids. The information was leaked in Pathanamthitta

When a NIA team arrived at three places in the Patathanamthitta district for raid, important leaders of the banned organisation had already left the place. It is suspected that the information about the raid was leaked by the Kerala Police.

The alleged leaking of the information has been taken seriously by the NIA and the agency is likely to probe the matter. This time the NIA raid was conducted with the cooperation of the Kerala police. Last September, the NIA team conducted raids at the PFI offices and residences of its leaders with the support of the CRPF. The state police’s assistance was not sought then.

Earlier, there were reports that NIA has handed over details of 873 police officials suspected to have links with PFI to Kerala DGP. However, the police have denied such reports.

Official sources said the simultaneous raids began on Wednesday night in 56 places spread across Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram districts. The raids were conducted following inputs that a few leaders were still actively coordinating the functioning of the PFI despite the ban. The NIA carried out raids at multiple locations in the state including residences of second-rung leaders of the banned outfit. One person has been taken into custody in the raid. Mubarak, a native of Edavanakkad, was taken into custody. It is informed that weapons were recovered from his house.

In Thiruvananthapuram districts, raids were carried out at Kudaikkal, Nedumangad Vithura and Pallikal. In Ernakulam, the raid took place at the house of former PFI state secretary MK Ashraf in Muvattupuzha, Aluva Periyar Valley Campus, Kakkanad, and Edavanakkad

The NIA conducted a raid at the house of former PFI leader Suneer Moulavi at Kanjirapalli in Kottayam district. The raid took place at four places in Alappuzha district.NIA conducted raids at nine places in Kannur district.

It is reported that many documents and electronic devices including mobile phones were seized in the raid.Mobile phones were seized in raids in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kollam and documents were seized in the raid in Muvattupuzha.

It is reported that crucial documents have been seized from the house of PFI former National President OMA Salam’s brother at Manjeri in Malappuram.