MALAPPURAM : Safwan P, one of the six persons held by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for plotting IS-inspired terror strike, works for a regional language daily in Kozhikode, was an active member of the National Development Front (NDF), which transformed into Popular Front of India (PFI), and an accused in an attack on the police station at Kottakkal here.
The crime records at the Kottakkal police station show that Safwan was named as accused number 11 in the charge-sheet. Over 100 men vowing allegiance to NDF had barged into the station on March 26, 2007, following the arrest of two of their leaders for their involvement in the murder of a RSS activist.Reports suggested that a large number of weapons, some of which appeared to be imported, were confiscated from the attackers.
A few policemen were hurt and the station was vandalised during the late-night strike. Meanwhile, relatives and neighbours of Safwan said that he was an active member of the NDF, and despite their strong objections, he continued to work with the front. But they all said he maintained a good relationship with all of them.“It is the ill-fate that befell on us. I cannot believe that he would engage in such a grievous crime. He never behaved badly with us. It was Safwan who fed the family when his father had died,” said his mother after hearing the new about Safwan.On the night before he was caught by the NIA, he had called her up and said he was going on a tour. Safwan behaved normally. There was nothing wrong about him, his mother said adding the news came as shock to her.
In a late night development, PFI, Tanur division, removed Safwan from the front for engaging in activities against the party lines.