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Kerala: NIA suspects leaking of info ahead of raids on PFI leaders

When a NIA team arrived at three places in the Patathanamthitta district for a raid, important leaders of the banned organisation had already left the place.

Statesman News Service | Thiruvanantapuram | December 29, 2022 2:51 pm

Kerala: NIA suspects leaking of info ahead of raids on PFI leaders

[File Photo]

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.

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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.

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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.

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# India

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010. A division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice P V Balakrishnan suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail to him after considering his appeal against the NIA court’s conviction in the case Considering the prolonged detention and citing the potential for trial delays, the court suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail, taking into account that some co-accused with similar allegations had already been released after serving shorter terms. The court noted that he had already spent nine years in jail and that delays in resolving appeals could justify suspending a convict’s prison term. It also observed that other accused in the case had received lesser sentences and had already been released after serving their terms. “The applicant has been undergoing incarceration, at the pre-conviction and post-conviction phases, for over 9 years. Furthermore, the fact that the accused facing the same allegations were earlier imposed a lesser term of imprisonment and have been released after having undergone the sentence is a factor that cannot be ignored. Additionally, the appeals filed by the NIA against the findings of the learned Sessions Judge are being considered in separate appeals, which have not yet been taken up. “There is also the likelihood of delay, as the prime accused has surrendered, and the learned Sessions Judge may have to take up the trial and dispose of it in accordance with the law and some of the original records may be required for that purpose. In view of these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the sentence imposed on the applicant can be suspended pending the consideration of the appeal.” The court said The court, however, imposed strict conditions for Nasar’s bail. He is not supposed to provide a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, refrain from leaving the country without the court’s permission, avoid interfering with the trial or witnesses, and not commit similar offences while on bail The gruesome incident dates back to July 4, 2010, when Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was returning from Sunday mass with his family, members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked him, allegedly in retaliation for a question paper he set, which contained a passage that they claimed insulted Prophet Mohammed was derogatory. His right hand was chopped off in this attack. Nasar was accused of playing a critical role in the attack. Investigations revealed his involvement in recruiting gang members, assigning specific tasks, collecting funds, procuring communication devices, and maintaining communication links with key conspirators.

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.