NIA attaches one of PFI’s largest arms and physical training centres in Kerala

Cracking down further on the terror activities of the Popular Front of India (PFI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has attached one of the oldest and largest arms and physical training centres of the banned outfit in Kerala. This is the sixth PFI arms training centre and the eighteenth property of the outfit to be attached by the NIA in Kerala, as proceeds of terrorism.

Under the provisions of UAPA, the NIA, had, on 17^th March, 2023, filed a chargesheet against 59 accused, including the PFI as an organization, in the case (RC 02/2022/NIA/KOC). As part of its continuing investigation in the case, NIA has now attached this training centre spread over 10 hectares. The Green Valley Academy, Manjeri, Kerala, is managed by Green Valley Foundation (GVF), and was used by the cadres of National Development Front and, subsequently by the PFI, into which it merged.

The PFI had been using the property for imparting arms training, physical training, and training on use and testing of explosives to its cadres, identified to be a part of their service-wing. The facility was also used to harbour several PFI service-wing members, after they committed crimes, including murders. The centre was further being used to impart radical and rabid-type of ideological training in PFI’s divisive and communal agenda, and policies, to its trained operatives, cadres, and members.

Offices of PFI and its frontal organizations were functioning from these premises under the guise of educational institutions. The 5 other PFI training centres attached previously by the NIA in Kerala were Malabar House, Periyar Valley, Valluvanad House, Karunya Charitable Trust, and Trivandrum Education and Service Trust (TEST).

Another 12 PFI offices, used by the outfit’s leader intermittently, to organize training in arms and physical training, ideological propagation, and training for commission of various crimes, including murders and terrorist acts, have also been attached. NIA investigations have revealed that the PFI has been running many such training centres in the guise of charitable and educational trusts, formed by the organization’s members or leaders.

Investigations have also revealed that the PFI had hired several buildings for running their training camps, and activities relating to terror and violence.