LUCKNOW: As many as 70 persons owing allegiance to banned Popular Front of India (PFI) were detained.
The teams searched several cities of the state including Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Saharanpur, Ghaziabad.
ATS suspects that all the people are in contact with PFI agents. 30 special teams of ATS conducted the operation. 211 persons were identified across the state with the help of central agencies.
The searches were carried out in Meerut, Barabanki, Varanasi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Ayodhya, Bahraich, Balrampur, Deoria, Siddharthnagar, Shamli, Moradabad and others.
Special DG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, said that government of India in September 2022 has declared PFI and its eight ancillary organisations to be indulging in spreading regressive regime through means of terror and posing threat to unity of the nation.
"On the information of central agencies 211 persons working as sympathisers of PFI were identified," said Kumar.
Giving details of the operation, Kumar said that 21 members who were found to be active were booked in the districts of Meerut, Barabanki, Varanasi, Lucknow, Aligarh and Ayodhya, while cases of breach of peace were registered against 132 others.
On the other hand, UP ATS arrested Pervez Ahmad and Raees Ahmad from Chetganj area of Varanasi on Sunday. The two are accused of helping Popular Front of India (PFI) in expansion of their cadre.
