NIA crackdown continues, 7th PFI activists arrested

Sagar Suraj

MOTIHARI : Continuing its crackdown on PFI activists who had conspired to carry out targeted killings in Bihar’s East Champaran District, the NIA achieved another success with the arrest of the seventh accused in the case late on Sunday  from Jitaura village, dist Motihari. 

The suspect was identified as Irshad @ Md. Belal, who was found to have been actively involved in PFI’s criminal conspiracy to spread communal hatred and enmity. Son of Md. Shahid, a resident of Harpur Kahuni, Ward 10, Bara Chakla, East Champaran, Bihar, Irshad had attended training classes held under the garb of Physical Education at Ahmad Palace, Phulwarisharif, Patna. He was also associated with PFI’s Training Centres and activities. A printed PFI banner and two iron swords have been recovered at his instance from a hideout in village Parsauni, dist Muzaffarpur. 

Notably, 4 persons have been arrested earlier in this case pertaining to PFI’s unlawful and violent activities, undertaken in the wake of their gathering in Phulwarisharif area of Patna last year. The case was initially registered on 12.07.2022 at PS Phulwarisharif, Patna, and re-registered 10 days later by NIA, which took over the investigations.  

One person, identified as Yakoob, is still absconding. He had recently posted a derogatory and inflammatory Facebook video post, aimed at disturbing peace and communal harmony. Many FB users had commented and trolled his post abusively. 

Earlier on Sunday, NIA had carried out extensive searches in Motihari District of Bihar and had arrested two people. Raids, which were conducted at 8 locations, led to the arrest of Tanveer Raza @ Barkati, s/o Md Abdulllah, and Md Abid @ Aryan, s/o Md Rustam, both residents of Bahadurpur, Mehsi, East Champaran. Multiple digital devices were seized during the searches.

Investigations have further revealed that the duo had arranged weapons and ammunition to carry out PFI’s plan of targeted killings, for which the targets had been identified and recces had been conducted. They had handed over the arms and ammunition to a PFI trainer, Yakoob, who had been conducting training sessions for PFI cadres.

This arrest has taken the total arrests to 7 accused persons in this case. More arrests are in the offing, as further investigations continue.