NIA Arrests One in PLFI Case After Raids in Assam & Jharkhand

NEW DELHI:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested one person in a case relating to revival attempts by People’s Liberation Front of India ( PLFI), following massive raids across two states in coordination with the respective state police forces.

Raids and searches were conducted on Wednesday by NIA teams, with the help of local police, at two locations in Jharkhand and two in Assam. The crackdown led to the arrest of one Binod Munda @ Sukkhwa from Khunti district of Jharkhand. The accused is an armed cadre of PLFI, a splinter Naxal group, and wanted in four PFLI cases of Jharkhand.

NIA teams also seized a host of incriminating materials, including PLFI related documents, along with two Walkie Talkies, five mobile phones, SIM cards and Rs.11,000 cash during the searches.

Two accused were arrested earlier in the case, along with Rs. 3 lakh cash and arms and ammunition. The case was registered on 11th October 2023 under relevant sections of IPC and UA(P)A against one Martin Kerkatta and other members of PLFI for trying to revive the outfit after the arrest of its supremo Dinesh Gope by NIA.

As part of the revival activities, PLFI members and cadres were involved in generating funds through extortion from various coal traders, transporters, railway contractors, businessmen, etc. in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, as per NIA investigations. Further investigations are continuing in the case.