While the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried the crackdown against Popular Front of India (PFI) across the country, in Assam it is the special branch of state police which is carrying the crackdown on the group. PFI , over a decade extended its reach to more areas in Assam and northeast. Its optimism in Assam stems from the quick success it has achieved in less than five years–as many as 20,000 of its functionaries are active across districts of the state. In the Northeast, PFI is also working to expand its base in Manipur and Tripura. NDTV'S Ratnadip Choudhury interviewed senior journalist-Author Rajeev Bhattacharyya who is the only journalist to have done extensive research work on PFI expansion in Assam and northeast.