The Gujarat ATS detained 15 members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Ahmedabad, Banaskantha, and Surat while the NIA and other investigative agencies conducted a second series of raids on PFI members.
SDPI has an office in Narol area of the city.
Sources from Gujarat ATS said 15 persons, including Shahnawaz of Surat and Abdul Qadir from Dhabel in Navsari, are being questioned about their supposed links with alleged disruptive activities of PFI. “Some of them are sympathisers of PFI and they are being interrogated. If found innocent, they will be let off,” said an ATS official.
Since Monday, the NIA has conducted raids on PFI in eight states across the nation. Additionally, some PFI members have been apprehended.
According to NIA sources, a lot of information was received during the interrogation of PFI leaders in the first round of raids. Based on the leads, police and other probe agencies are carrying out raids in eight states, including Gujarat.
As many as 21 PFI members have been detained in eight districts of Assam — Goalpara, Kamrup, Barpeta, Dhubri, Bagsa, Darrang, Udalguri and Karimganj. Raids that started on Tuesday morning are still underway.
The persons have been detained under PAR (Preventive Action Report). “They were all picked up under PAR and no FIR has been registered,” said an ATS official.
On July 31, the NIA launched search operations and interrogated a man named Abdul Jalil. After being questioned for two days, he was nonetheless released. About a month ago, NIA interrogated Abdul Qadir of Navsari.
His social media sites, according to the NIA, included incriminating information. Some of individuals in custody are PFI sympathisers, and they are currently being questioned. If proven not guilty, they will be released.