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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted raids at eight locations in five districts of Uttar Pradesh in connection with its ongoing probe into a Naxal case.
The raids were conducted in Prayagraj, Varanasi, Chandauli, Azamgarh and Deoria districts. As per official sources in the anti-terror agency, the raids were conducted in connection with NIA Case no. RC- 01/2023/NIA/LKW revival of NRB of CPI (Maoist) case.
Multiple NIA teams carried out searches simultaneously in the residential and office premises of the suspects. Coinciding with the coordinated operations launched against the Maoists in all the Left-wing extremist-affected states in the country.
Meanwhile, the sources said that NIA was taking major action in the CPI terror funding case. An NIA team has arrived for further investigation in a case related to Naxal activities in Uttar Pradesh. The NIA team had received information that Naxalites were being funded by luring the youth.
Reports said NIA raided a house in Mahamanapuri Colony, Varanasi, on Tuesday morning. The NIA team interrogated two girls belonging to a student organisation in the house. During this time, the entire area was sealed and movement from the side of the house was stopped.
NIA action was going on in Uma Nagar town of Deoria. The NIA team was present at the house of Dr Ramnath Chauhan, who is the national general secretary of Janwadi Kranti Dal. A huge number of police forces were deployed outside the house. Chauhan held various positions in the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and is currently the national general secretary of Rashtriya Janwadi Kranti Dal. The NIA team reached his house at 5 am on Tuesday. Although Chauhan was not at home, his family members were interrogated.
It may be mentioned that earlier, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers of Uttar Pradesh Police had arrested five Naxalites from Ballia. They were taken into police custody remand to extract details about their operations and source of funding. Officials claim that the five accused who were prominent members of the banned Community Party of India (Maoist) were arrested from a house  where they gathered for a meeting. The ATS had got a 10-day remand of three alleged Naxalites, including a father-daughter duo, who were also allegedly involved in naxal activities.