The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached one of the largest arms and physical training centres, spread over 10 hectares, of the banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

This is the sixth PFI arms training centre and the 18th property of the Islamist outfit to be attached in Kerala as ‘proceeds of terrorism’ under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The agency said the PFI had been using the property for imparting arms training, physical training, and training on the use and testing of explosives to its cadres, identified as part of their ‘Service Wing’.

“The facility was also used to harbour several ‘PFI Service Wing’ members after they committed crimes, including murders. The centre was further being used to impart a radical and rabid type of ideological training in PFI’s divisive and communal agenda and policies to its trained operatives, cadres, and members,” the NIA spokesperson said.

On March 17, the NIA filed a charge sheet against 59 accused, including the PFI as an organisation, in a case registered last year. As part of its continuing investigations in the case, the NIA has now attached this training centre.

“The Green Valley Academy, Manjeri, Kerala, is managed by the Green Valley Foundation’ (GVF) and was used by the cadres of the National Development Front and subsequently by the PFI into which it merged,” the NIA spokesperson said.

The five other PFI training centres previously attached by the NIA in Kerala were Malabar House, Periyar Valley, Valluvanad House, Karunya Charitable Trust, and Trivandrum Education and Service Trust (TEST).

“Investigations have also revealed that the PFI had hired several buildings for running their training camps and activities relating to terror and violence,” the NIA said.