Tension prevailed in different parts of Central Kerala on Thursday with activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) staging a series of protests against an overnight crackdown by the Central agencies.
The raids, conducted jointly by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), began on Wednesday midnight and continued till around 6 a.m. on Thursday. The teams, assisted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, searched the residences and offices of various PFI leaders amidst strong protests by the activists outside these locations.
Official sources said at least four persons, including a councillor of the Erattupetta municipality, were taken into custody from Kottayam, while the raids conducted at Idukki resulted in the detention of two Peruvanthanam natives.
