In a democratic setting, a slow process is often misconstrued as the absence of the rule of law. Anti-social elements take the system’s fairness and justice for granted. They commit in illegal activities without fear of being caught and punished.

They, however, forget that in the end, KARMA will always come back to bite them. Apparently, the same has happened with the extremist Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

The bigoted outfit did everything possible to create an atmosphere of hatred and communalize society. But now with the relentless actions of the security agencies, it must have learned its lessons the hard way.

Operation Octopus

On the 29th of August, Home Minister Shah held a key security meeting with the high-ranking officials tasked with the duty to safeguard India’s national security.

Key attendees of the security meeting included National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, IB Chief Tapan Deka, and Raw Chief Samant Goel. In the meeting, Union Minister Shah directed all the intelligence agencies to collect all the minute details on PFI and its activities.

The security agencies were then tasked to carry out a well-planned Operation against PFI. This operation was code-named ‘Operation Octopus’.

After the security meeting, the Intelligence agencies, IB, and RAW started an extensive campaign to gather important details about all the past and ongoing activities of the extremist group PFI.

The intelligence agencies found inputs and pieces of evidence that the PFI leaders and cadres were involved in the funding of terrorism and terrorist activities.

Furthermore, PFI used to organize training camps in which it provided arms training and brainwashed people to join banned organizations.

After collecting these incriminating details, the intelligence agencies prepared a dossier. To serve Justice to all the victims of hate and violent crimes, the agencies handed over the dossier to NIA and ED.

As per media reports, the security agencies planned the crackdown Operation for months. They aimed to carry out simultaneous and coordinated raids to dismantle the terror ecosystem. NIA, ED, IB, CRPF, and 15 other state agencies were included in this meticulous planning.

In order to achieve synergy and coordination between different agencies and have a tactical response to every scenario, a special multi-agency control room was set up in Delhi.

Thousands of security personnel were involved in this operation. Reportedly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had directed his firm resolve to put PFI to task for all its alleged crimes.

Home Minister Amit Shah constantly monitored the Special Operation Octopus. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval supervised the entire Operation against PFI. He along with IB Chief Tapan Deka was present in the control room on the night of the operation.

Midnight multiple Surgical Strikes against PFI

The security agencies had gathered the intel on the activities of PFI and they knew that carrying out raids on offices of PFI involved security risks. So, it planned its operations on the lines of surgical strikes. NIA, ED, and state police forces raids at 93 locations in 15 states in a massive crackdown against the organization, arresting over 108 PFI members from across the country.

Raids were based on allegations that members of PFI are involved in organizing terror camps & encouraging youth to join terror activities. These searches were conducted at the houses & offices of the top PFI leaders & members in connection with 5 cases registered by the NIA.

To nullify the threats, the security agencies planned a midnight raid on all such locations that posed a threat to the security agencies. The teams raided multiple locations linked with PFI at around 4 A.M.

All the raiding teams returned to their places safely along with all the arrested members of PFI. During these raids, security agencies seized incriminating documents, cash, sharp-edged weapons, and a large number of digital devices.

In total, the security agencies raided 93 locations linked with PFI and arrested 106 members of the Islamic outfit. These searches were conducted in connection with 5 cases NIA had registered earlier.

After the completion of raids and arrests, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with NSA Ajit Doval and NIA Chief Dinkar Gupta.

The attendees deliberated on the evidence gathered from these raids and the follow-up actions to be taken against PFI and its affiliated organization SDPI.

Now, there is a high possibility that the extremist group will be banned for good. Notably, in April 2021, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Apex Court that the Modi government is in the process of banning PFI.

PFI heading the Anti-India forces, Zero-tolerance to any form of Terror

PFI has come under the scanner for its alleged involvement in various anti-social and anti-national activities. From organizing street protests against CAA & NRC to stoking communal violence to killings of RSS Karyakartas & a hand chopping incident in Kerala & many more.

Evidently, several investigations had revealed the sinister role of PFI in the Delhi riots and other communal clashes. Amid all the calls to ban the extremist outfit, PFI had the audacity to keep spreading its ugly tentacles in new states. It started committing graver and more sinister acts of terror on a regular basis.

What does a ‘ban’ on an organization mean? How an organization is declared a terrorist organization?

Answer - The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act gives powers to the Govt to declare an organization an “Unlawful Association” or a “Terrorist Organization”.

Declaring an organization a terrorist organization has serious consequences in law, including criminalizing its membership and the forfeiture of the property of the organization.

Under Section 35 of the UAPA, the central govt has powers to declare an organization a terrorist organization “only if it believes that it is involved in terrorism”. A schedule can be amended by the government to add or remove organizations from the list.

What is a “Terrorist” Organization?

Answer - Section 2 (m) of the UAPA defines "Terrorist Organization” as an organization listed in the Schedule to the UAPA, or an organization operating under the same name as an organization so listed in the Schedule.

What are the consequences of declaring an organization a terrorist organization?

Answer - The 2 crucial consequences of being declared a Terrorist Organization are that the funding of the organization and the association of individuals with the organization are criminalized.!

What is the recourse in law available to a terrorist organization?

Answer - An application can be made to the Central Govt to remove an org. from the Schedule by the organization itself or any person affected by the inclusion of the org. in the Schedule as a terrorist org.

Thankfully, their demonic acts are finally put to an end. The security agencies planned this elaborate operation to completely obliterate the biggest menace to peace and National security.

A review committee is then appointed which is headed by a sitting or former judge of a High Court to “Judicially Review” the application. The org. will be removed if the review committee “Considers that the decision to reject was flawed.

Reactions from different organizations after the raids.

All India Muslim Jamaat president Maulana S. Razvi called upon the Muslim Community to stay away from the PFI calling it a "radical group" and urged the Central Government to impose a ban on it.

All India Bar Association (AIBA) has sought a ban on PFI. The AIBA in its statement stated that the Union Home Ministry to ban PFI without any delay & expeditiously. The Centre should set up special courts to exclusively try PFI-related cases, treating them as terrorism cases.

PFI encouraged youth to join LeT, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda to establish Islamic rule in India: NIA During the raids, incriminating documents, cash, sharp-edged weapons, and a large number of digital devices were seized. PFI, its members in Kerala encouraged youths to join Terrorist org such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), ISIS, and Al-Qaida and also conspired to establish Islamic rule in India by committing a terrorist act, reveals NIA remand copy submitted before a special court in Kerala.

Making National Security unbreachable

After the advent of social media, ideologies of hatred and violence expanded their tentacles beyond the boundaries of state and nation. For a very long time, this menace of radicalization was running amuck in the nation unabated.

Finally, communal organizations peddling radicalization and indoctrination are now facing the brunt of the law. The security agencies have launched this extensive Nationwide campaign to wipe out every trace of radicalization and terrorism from the face of the world.

Earlier, the security agencies broke the spine of organized crime syndicates and Khalistani terror in Punjab and other adjoining states. After that, the security agencies didn’t waste any moment in dismantling the terror infrastructure of PFI.

Additionally, on the 24th of September, the CBI launched ‘Operation Meghachakra’ against online child sexual abuse in 20 states and UTs. The operation aims to end the circulation and sharing of child sexual abuse material online.

Under the operation, searches were carried out at 56 locations in 20 states. These raids are linked with two cases pertaining to online Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM).

The Interpol unit of New Zealand through Singapore had shared the intel which initiated these nationwide raids. The exercise is code-named “Op Meghachakra” as the CSEM was downloaded and circulated through ‘Cloud Space’.

Earlier, in 2021, the CBI had carried out a similar crackdown code-named “Operation Carbon”. Back then it conducted raids at 76 locations across the country. Several accused were nabbed during those raids.

With back-to-back coordinated and widespread raids on multiple locations in multiple crimes against humanity and India’s interest, clearly demonstrates a zero-tolerance policy against anti-India forces.

All these criminal and terrorist organizations may seem to have different names, motives, and members but it provides support and cannon fodder to each other and are more intertwined than it appears on the surface.

The relentless actions of security agencies highlight that the agencies are firm in their commitment and it wipes only rest when all the anti-India forces are brought to Justice.

It seems that the agencies will set an example by taking stringent action against PFI and its affiliated organizations and obliterating such anti-India forces from the face of the earth.