NIA action in 6 states: Mumbai man cleared of terror charges after 9 years in jail among those held

In fresh action against banned outfit Popular Front of India, the NIA reportedly searched at least 12 locations in six states on Wednesday. Around 10 people have been reportedly detained in searches in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.

The NIA is yet to release a statement but according to an ANI report, the searches pertain to the Phulwari Sharif conspiracy case, which accuses PFI operatives of training and indoctrinating youngsters to “wage war” against India. 

Human rights activist Wahid Shaikh, who was acquitted in 2015 in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case after spending nine years in prison and had written a book titled Begunah Qaidi detailing his experience, was also among those who were detained after his premises were searched in the morning by police and NIA officials. 

On Wednesday, Shaikh alleged that the officials broke down the entrance door at his house in Mumbai, and refused to furnish any legal notice to explain the search. He also claimed that he sent online complaints to the Mumbai police commissioner and the Parksite police station and locked himself up in a room with his wife and children.

“For the last four hours, we have been locked inside this room. My wife is not well and I have children who are just four to five years old and have not eaten since morning. They are crying but we can’t do anything…I don’t have any problem letting them in. I haven’t kept a bomb or guns inside my house. Nor am I involved in any kind of illegal activity. But police officials should at least provide me with a legal notice,” he told Newslaundry over the phone before he was detained.

Shaikh’s lawyer Ibrahim Harbat denied allegations that his client was linked to the PFI and said that they will “approach the high court”.

Details about the others who were detained in searches on Wednesday are unclear at this stage.

Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, DCP (zone-7) Purushottam Karad, and Vinak Mer, senior inspector at the Parksite police station, did not respond to requests for comment by Newslaundry. This report will be updated if a response is received.