NIA officers visit Mumbai man for raid in PFI-linked case, kept waiting outside for 6 hours
Mumbai (PTI): An NIA team conducting a raid in a PFI-related case had to wait outside the residence of a man, who was earlier accused in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case, in suburban Vikhroli on Wednesday as he did not open the door for more than six hours, an official said.
The National Investigation Agency's action was part of its raids conducted at several locations in six states against the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with a case related to creating a disruption during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar last year, officials said.
"An NIA team along with that of the Mumbai police reached the residence of Abdul Wahid Shaikh, who was earlier accused in the 7/11 train blasts case, located inside a chawl at Parksite in Vikhroli around 5 am. But Shaikh did not open the door for more than six hours and kept the officials waiting outside," the official said.
From inside the house, Shaikh demanded a search warrant from the NIA, he said, adding that he opened the door around 11.15 am after his lawyer and some local social activists reached the spot, he said.
"The NIA team then entered his residence and started their inquiry in connection with the PFI-related case," the official said.
A large number of police personnel were deployed outside Shaikh's residence, he said.
Shaikh earlier posted a video message on WhatsApp, saying the police and some people had gathered outside his residence since 5 am.
"They want to enter my house, also broke one door and damaged the CCTV camera of my house. They are not showing any documents to me pertaining to the case or any FIR," he claimed.
"I have locked myself and my family members inside the residence for the last three hours, my wife and daughter are unwell. I have made a complaint with the police and the Mumbai Police Commissioner in this regard," he added.
Shaikh was named as an accused in the 7/11 train blasts case, but was later acquitted by a court.
On July 11, 2006, seven blasts were reported from different locations on the Western line of the city's local trains within a span of 15 minutes, killing more than 180 people and injuring several others.
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Efforts of party cadres will be rewarded on May 4: DMK chief Stalin
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday said that the efforts made by his party cadres during the Assembly elections would be rewarded on May 4.
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections held on April 23 will be taken up on May 4.
"We are set to reap the rewards of the hard work put in by our party cadres on the coming fourth (May 4 counting day). There is absolutely no change in this and not even the slightest deviation," Stalin said at a May Day event here.
"There is no need for anyone to assume that I am speaking merely on the basis of exit polls," he added.
Stalin, who is also DMK chief, said that "good news" would come for those eagerly waiting for the election results.
Stating that the DMK governance is based on philosophy and principles, Stalin said, "This will continue."
He recalled the pivotal role of the then Chief Minister C N Annadurai, who first declared May Day as a government holiday, and subsequently, late CM M Karunanidhi, who was instrumental in extending it as a paid holiday across the nation.
"Responding to the request of Kalaingnar (Karunanidhi), the then Prime Minister V P Singh accepted the plea and declared it (May 1) a paid government holiday not merely for Tamil Nadu, but for the entire nation," Stalin said.
