Raids and searches are being carried out against those allegedly involved in terror funding and radicalizing others to join extremist organizations. The Popular Front of India has condemned the searches in a statement.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday morning raided the premises linked to Popular Front of India (PFI) in several states, government sources said.

In a massive crackdown on PFI, the anti-terror agency carried out raids in ten states, including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The maximum number of arrests were made in Kerala (22) followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each), Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Madhya Pradesh (4), Puducherry (3), Tamil Nadu (10), Uttar Pradesh (8) and Rajasthan (2).

Over 100 top PFI leaders and functionaries have been arrested in the nationwide raids. Details of the arrests were not available immediately, but officials said the arrests were done by the NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police forces of six states so far. NIA claims that PFI pursue at strategy aimed at communalizing Indian polity, enforcing Taliban brand of Islam, heightening existing social divisions and maintaining a trained group of people for physical actions.

In what is believed to be the “largest ever” crackdown till date, raids and searches are being carried out against those allegedly involved in terror funding, organizing training camps and radicalizing others to join extremist groups. “The raids are taking place at the homes of national, state and local leaders of PFI. The state committee office is also being raided. We strongly protest the fascist regime’s moves to use agencies to silence dissenting voices,” the PFI said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the anti-terror agency charged four PFI functionaries under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after carrying out searches at 38 locations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.