Over 80 PFI men taken into preventive custody across K’taka in pre-dawn raids

BENGALURU: Days after over 100 PFI and SDPI leaders were arrested from across 15 states by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Karnataka police have detained over 80 activists in a pre-dawn raid across Karnataka on Tuesday.

The activists picked up from Belagavi were sent to Hindalga jail.

The detentions were made under PAR (Preventive Arrest Report) on the directions of ADGP (law and order) Alok Kumar. The respective police commissioners and superintendents of police supervised the operations across the districts.

The Hindalga jail in Belagavi.

The preventive arrests were made right from Bidar in the north to Chamarajanagar down south. The activists were picked up for actively beign involved in PFI and SDPI activities, trying to raise funds and disturb peace in society. The police rounded up activists in Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Kolar, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Udupi, Bagalkot, Koppal, Ballari, Raichur and several other districts. The diaries of 15 suspects from Bengaluru and several bank accounts are now under the scanner.

The arrested were produced before the local tahsildhar and those who could produce bonds and sureties were freed while the others were sent to jail.

A PFI activist being detained in Raichur.

In Mysuru, the police picked up Kalimullah, the fourth accused in the KG Halli riots, and found that he was the South India head for PFI and overseeing its activities. He is also believed to have imparted training in terror activities to some people and allegedly used to brainwash those who were fundamentally inclined.

Some people protested against the police action in Raichur.

Kalimullah used to incite youths to disturb peace in society and create ill will against the country. He used to also train those who were mentally and physically fit. The police are now on the lookout for those who received training from him and his sources of funds.

The police have also found a diary in the possession of Mansoor Ahmed, the second accused in the KG Halli riots case. The diary mentions funds given to different people and he also has 10 bank accounts. The police are now looking into his financial dealings.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra briefing the media about the operation.

Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said, “The police have made preventive arrests of PFI/SDPI leaders and office-bearers acrosss the state. When the NIA had conducted raids recently, these people had tried to disturb peace in society. Hence, they were taken into preventive custody.”

ADGP Alok Kumar briefing the media about the preventive arrests.

Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Alok Kumar said, “The arrested were produced before the local tahsildars where they will have to execute a bond and surety. Some of them have been given to preventive custody for a week to 15 days. Inquiries are still going on. The government will take strict action against anyone who tries to disturb peace in society.”