(Image on the left side is representative)
In an alarming development, the Tamil Nadu police have arrested 35 youths from Periyapattinam in Ramanathapuram district on suspicion of infusing radicalism among Muslims through secret religious training camps.
On November 24, the police led by the Superintendent of Police E. Karthik conducted a surprise raid in Periyappatinam and took into custody 35 Muslim youth, suspected of preaching radical Islam through religious training camps under the name ‘Beginners Camp’.
The investigation revealed that the Muslim youth aged between 20 and 25 belonged to the extremist and militiant Muslim organization Popular Front of India (PFI). A case has been registered at the Thirupullani police station against PFI in various sections.
In 2013, police nabbed 30 youths from Assam, Kashmir, Bihar and Odisha who were engaged in covert training in the same coastal groves of Periyapattinam.
People of the area are skeptical and suspicious of the motive behind the secret gathering in the groves. According to locals, the panchayat administration being under the control of the PFI bring in many people from different states under the pretext of conducting yoga and conduct secret training sessions. Any religious propaganda meeting requires the permission of the district administration, however the PFI is said to be holding covert religious stealthily.
The Rashtriya Muslim Manch (Muslim wing of the RSS) has called for a thorough investigation.
It is noteworthy to mention that it was in this same in this same village that a panchayat office building constructed by the government had a plaque with the inscription declaring that Periyapattinam is Tamil Nadu’s first capital of the Muslims.
However, following opposition from locals and other Hindu organizations, the controversial plaque installed at the government building was removed but no action has been taken so far on the officials who permitted the plaque.