PFI Arrest: NIA Nabs Absconding Accused
Hyderabad: The National Investigation Agency arrested a PFI accused who had been absconding for nearly four years. The arrest took place at Nedumbassery airport near Kochi. The accused, Moideenkutty, is a native of Valanchery in Malappuram district. He was wanted in connection with an alleged arms training case linked to the banned Popular Front of India.
NIA tracks Malappuram native in arms training case
Investigators said Moideenkutty had been on the run since 2022. He was among the key accused in a case involving alleged arms training camps organised for PFI activists. Meanwhile, a dedicated NIA team tracked his movements based on intelligence inputs gathered from multiple states.
Earlier, the agency had announced a reward of Rs 7 lakh for credible information leading to his arrest. This reward reflected the agency’s assessment of his role in the case. Later, officials intercepted him at the airport while he was allegedly attempting to travel abroad. Therefore, the arrest marked a significant step in the ongoing probe.
NIA intensifies crackdown after PFI ban
The probe forms part of a broader crackdown on extremist activities after the Centre banned the PFI in 2022. After taking him into custody, officials produced the accused before the jurisdictional court. The court then remanded him.
The NIA is expected to seek custodial interrogation. Investigators aim to gather further details about the alleged training network. They also want to examine coordination among the accused and possible financial or logistical support structures.
Meanwhile, the agency continues to pursue multiple cases linked to alleged radicalisation, recruitment and arms training across several states. The investigation in this case is ongoing. More disclosures are likely as questioning progresses.
Security agencies said sustained surveillance and inter state coordination helped trace the absconding accused. In late January, the NIA carried out coordinated early morning raids across multiple districts in Kerala. These searches were part of an ongoing probe into suspected efforts to revive the banned PFI and alleged financial support for extremist activities.
The searches targeted residences and offices of former office bearers of the PFI and its political wing, the Social Democratic Party of India. Officials acted on intelligence inputs suggesting funds were being mobilised clandestinely to sustain banned organisational activities and facilitate extremist operations.
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