India raids Zakir Naik's NGO offices

India's premier anti-terror outfit National Investigation Agency yesterday raided 10 premises of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an NGO of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, in Mumbai, reported local media.

The searches by NIA sleuths began in the morning with the help of Mumbai police. The action came a few days after the Indian government banned the IRF under the anti-terror law -- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The NGO came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the July 1 Gulshan terror attack in Dhaka in a social media post said they had been inspired by Naik's speeches.

According to the Indian home ministry, IRF chief Naik allegedly made many provocative speeches and engaged in terror propaganda.

The NIA on Friday night registered a case against Naik and others under

153-A of Indian Penal Code (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion...and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, The Times of India said.