NIA to crackdown on Nizamabad PFI camps, 25 people under scanner

The NIA will probe the PFI conspiracy behind Nizamabad training camps after a karate teacher, with alleged links to PFI, was arrested for training Muslim youth in weapons to incite violence.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday ordered a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe after it was revealed that the Popular Front of India (PFI) conducted camps in Telangana's Nizamabad to train youth in combat and arms in the guise of karate classes.

Under the guise of holding training camps, the karate master was motivating and mentoring innocent youth and brainwashing them to "attack people of other religions".

Now, the NIA will probe whether PFI was involved in a conspiracy to create riots in the district.

Stringent action will be taken against 25 people who have alleged links to PFI, including Abdul Qader, the karate instructor.

According to sources, Qader gave training to at least 200 people in the guise of karate classes.

All the accused were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and incriminating documents and weapons were seized during the police action. These weapons were allegedly used to give training to Muslim youth.

The NIA will probe how the PFI funded these camps and also the foreign funding received by the outfit to run these camps.