The Popular Front Of India (PFI) has been barred from operating for the next five years due to alleged terrorist activities. According to the government, the PFI and its affiliate organizations have been declared an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), citing the outfit’s links with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and the Islamic State or ISIS, and that the PFI is involved in several criminal and terror cases.
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On September 22, multi-agency teams led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 106 PFI leaders and activists in 15 states for allegedly supporting terrorist activities in the country. The NIA is looking into 19 PFI-related cases.
Besides the PFI, organizations linked to it have also been banned. These are Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CF), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation, and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Anti-Terrorist Squad, Special Task Force, and local police conducted simultaneous raids in 26 districts. Prashant Kumar, Additional Director General (Law and Order), stated that documents and evidence had been gathered.
Further action will be taken based on the evidence gathered, Kumar said, adding that 57 people have been arrested.
Central Government declares PFI (Popular Front of India) and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect, for a period of five years. pic.twitter.com/ZVuDcBw8EL
— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2022
The action was taken under Criminal Procedure Code Section 151(3) in light of the recent crackdown on the PFI by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), according to senior police inspector Sardar Patil of Kondhwa police station.
Based on intelligence inputs, we conducted raids and caught over 80 people associated with PFI & SDPI. 20 more people are also being questioned. They have been sent to preventive custody. They were planning to incite communal violence/public disorder: Karnataka ADGP (Law & Order) pic.twitter.com/hOgzYJwuK6
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2022
The action was swift as police teams fanned out across their respective states on Tuesday, seemingly in unison. According to officials, 25 people were arrested in Assam, four in Maharashtra, and 30 in Delhi. Madhya Pradesh had the most detainees with 21, followed by Gujarat with ten. In addition, several people were arrested in Karnataka.
Popular Front of India is a militant and extremist Muslim organization that describes itself on Facebook as a group dedicated to achieving equal rights, justice, freedom, and security for all Indians.
