NIA raids 16 places in Karnataka, hunts for PFI’s terror-funding evidence

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided 16 places in Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday as part of its ongoing investigation into terror funding. There were 25 raids in total across Kerala, Karnataka and Bihar in connection with an alleged anti-India terror plot in Phulwarisharif, Patna from 2022 by the Popular Front of India (PFI).

The raids in Dakshina Kannada took place in a few houses, shops and a hospital in Bantwal, Uppinangady, Venur and Belthangady. The NIA was looking for digital evidence of money transactions from Gulf countries to Karnataka which were made to help radical organisations in terror-related plots.

The Central government had banned the PFI back in 2022, a fact which the BJP tried to play to its advantage in the recent state assembly polls. The BJP leaders at that time had accused the Congress of aligning with PFI.


The Congress, in its manifesto, however, had pledged that it would ban organisations fomenting trouble such as the PFI and Bajrang Dal, but the reference to Bajrang Dal led to a counteroffensive from the BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP's Karnataka unit, in a tweet, hailed the NIA raids, saying Kannadigas are confident about the Central government. “Why is the Congress government silent on this issue? Is it because of the PFI alliance during elections?” the party said.

In previous raids investigating the plot, 13 people have been arrested so far.