Tag: Popular Front of India

  • EXPLAINER | What is Popular Front Of India

    By PTI

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In 2006, leaders of three like-minded outfits from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka sat together and discussed the need for forming a pan-India organisation for empowering the Muslim community from their socio, economic and political backwardness.

    On the basis of the decision arrived at the meeting held at Manjeri in Kerala’s Malappuram district, leaders of the National Development Front (NDF) in Kerala, Manitha Neethi Pasarai in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Forum for Dignity assembled at Bengaluru few months later and announced the merger of the three outfits, leading to the emergence of the Popular Front of India (PFI).

    Sixteen years later, on Thursday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) swooped down on PFI activists in 11 states and picked many of them up for their alleged terror-related activities following raids, described by officials as the “largest ever” such exercise.

    The outfit protested the “fascist regime’s move to use agencies to silence dissenting voices.”

    The PFI claims to strive for a neo-social movement ostensibly for the empowerment of marginalised sections of India.

    It is, however, often accused by law enforcement agencies of promoting radical Islam.

    After its birth in 2006, PFI soon expanded its operations in other states in north, west and east and northeastern parts of the country.

    It further spread its wings after the merger of various social organisations with it.

    The PFI now has various allied organisations including its political arm Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the student wing Campus Front of India, National Women’s Front, an NGO called Rehab India Foundation and a think tank called Empower India Foundation.

    Several analysts have traced the roots of the PFI to the NDF, a radical Islamic outfit which was formed in 1993, in response to the demolition of the Babri Masjid a year ago.

    Founded by former leaders of the banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the activities of the NDF were widely discussed in Kerala following communal riots in Kozhikode district in 2002 and 2003 which saw killings of people belonging to two communities.

    Although the PFI was formed with an objective to work for the socio-economic advancement of Muslims in the country, the outfit soon came under the radar of various state and central agencies for all the wrong reasons, particularly after the 2010 incident of chopping off the hand of a college professor in Kerala for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a question paper he had set.

    Several activists linked with the PFI were arrested in connection with the 2011 incident that was condemned by all democratic forces in the country.

    Rooted in anti-Sangh Parivar ideology, the outfit was blamed for violence during various protests organised by minority communities in the country against the BJP government at the centre particularly during the agitations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

    The outfit also came under the scrutiny of various agencies in connection with the alleged “Love Jihad” incidents in Kerala, forced conversion of people belonging to other faiths and disappearance of some people from the state to join the Islamic State in Afghanistan and Syria.

    The activists of PFI and its allied organisations were also arrested for the killings of RSS-BJP leaders in Kerala in recent months.

    The fundraising activities of the PFI are also being investigated by central agencies like the ED and Income Tax Department.

    The leaders of PFI allegedly travel to the Middle East nations for raising funds for the activities of the organisation as many of their supporters from South India are working in that region.

    The donations received by the outfit were investigated by the central agencies.

    The Kerala government had banned the freedom parades organised by the PFI on Independence Day every year through the selected areas of the southern state.

    Despite being blamed for all these reasons, the PFI, however, continued its focus on its mission of upliftment of Muslim community through its Empower India Foundation which has come out with a project document for 2047.

    Its leaders have said the idea is to set a vision and prepare a long-term action plan for empowering the country and the Muslim community when India celebrates 100 years of its independence.

    It had organised several national seminars and city get-together programmes in various states as part of the project preparation.

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In 2006, leaders of three like-minded outfits from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka sat together and discussed the need for forming a pan-India organisation for empowering the Muslim community from their socio, economic and political backwardness.

    On the basis of the decision arrived at the meeting held at Manjeri in Kerala’s Malappuram district, leaders of the National Development Front (NDF) in Kerala, Manitha Neethi Pasarai in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Forum for Dignity assembled at Bengaluru few months later and announced the merger of the three outfits, leading to the emergence of the Popular Front of India (PFI).

    Sixteen years later, on Thursday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) swooped down on PFI activists in 11 states and picked many of them up for their alleged terror-related activities following raids, described by officials as the “largest ever” such exercise.

    The outfit protested the “fascist regime’s move to use agencies to silence dissenting voices.”

    The PFI claims to strive for a neo-social movement ostensibly for the empowerment of marginalised sections of India.

    It is, however, often accused by law enforcement agencies of promoting radical Islam.

    After its birth in 2006, PFI soon expanded its operations in other states in north, west and east and northeastern parts of the country.

    It further spread its wings after the merger of various social organisations with it.

    The PFI now has various allied organisations including its political arm Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the student wing Campus Front of India, National Women’s Front, an NGO called Rehab India Foundation and a think tank called Empower India Foundation.

    Several analysts have traced the roots of the PFI to the NDF, a radical Islamic outfit which was formed in 1993, in response to the demolition of the Babri Masjid a year ago.

    Founded by former leaders of the banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the activities of the NDF were widely discussed in Kerala following communal riots in Kozhikode district in 2002 and 2003 which saw killings of people belonging to two communities.

    Although the PFI was formed with an objective to work for the socio-economic advancement of Muslims in the country, the outfit soon came under the radar of various state and central agencies for all the wrong reasons, particularly after the 2010 incident of chopping off the hand of a college professor in Kerala for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a question paper he had set.

    Several activists linked with the PFI were arrested in connection with the 2011 incident that was condemned by all democratic forces in the country.

    Rooted in anti-Sangh Parivar ideology, the outfit was blamed for violence during various protests organised by minority communities in the country against the BJP government at the centre particularly during the agitations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

    The outfit also came under the scrutiny of various agencies in connection with the alleged “Love Jihad” incidents in Kerala, forced conversion of people belonging to other faiths and disappearance of some people from the state to join the Islamic State in Afghanistan and Syria.

    The activists of PFI and its allied organisations were also arrested for the killings of RSS-BJP leaders in Kerala in recent months.

    The fundraising activities of the PFI are also being investigated by central agencies like the ED and Income Tax Department.

    The leaders of PFI allegedly travel to the Middle East nations for raising funds for the activities of the organisation as many of their supporters from South India are working in that region.

    The donations received by the outfit were investigated by the central agencies.

    The Kerala government had banned the freedom parades organised by the PFI on Independence Day every year through the selected areas of the southern state.

    Despite being blamed for all these reasons, the PFI, however, continued its focus on its mission of upliftment of Muslim community through its Empower India Foundation which has come out with a project document for 2047.

    Its leaders have said the idea is to set a vision and prepare a long-term action plan for empowering the country and the Muslim community when India celebrates 100 years of its independence.

    It had organised several national seminars and city get-together programmes in various states as part of the project preparation.

  • Bihar terror module case: NIA conducts raids several places in search of PFI members

    Express News Service

    PATNA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted raids in different places in Patna, Nalanda and Darbhanga districts in connection with Phulwarisahrif terror module case allegedly linked to extremist outfit – Popular Front of India (PFI).

    The NIA officials also raided the house of Mohammad Athar Parvez at Phulwarisharif in Patna. Parvez, a former member of banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), is currently lodged in Beur central jail in Patna.

    Earlier, an NIA team reached Singhwara in Darbhanga district early Thursday morning and started search for Mustkin, a resident of Shankarpur village. The raiding team also conducted a raid at ancestral house of Sanaullah alias Yakib and Nariuddin Jangi.

    In Nalanda, the NIA team was on the look out of Mohammad Siraz alias Lalbabu, Faiz and Mohammad Asgar Ali, stated to be closely associated with SDPI. Siyaz alias Lalbabu is stated to be district president of SDPI.

    A report from East Champaran said the NIA team was looking for Mohmmad Riayz Mauroof alias Bablu at Kuan village near Motihari. Riyaz is the general secretary of PFI.

    ALSO READ | Documents show PFI’s plot for making India an Islamic state by 2047

    In Patna’s Nayatola, the raiding team stumbled upon important documents in a rented house of Mohammad Athar, stated to be the leader of the group in Bihar. The entire locality had converted into a fortress in the wake of the search operation.

    The PFI ‘terror module’ case was recently unearthed by the Bihar Police with the arrest of three people for their alleged links with the group and their plans to indulge in “anti-India” activities.

    On Wednesday, the NIA carried out searches in Jamia Maria Niswa Madrasa located in Bihar’s East Champaran district and arrested a teacher identified as Asghar Ali. Mohammad Jalaluddin, a retired Jharkhand Police officer, and Athar Parvez were arrested on July 13 from the Phulwari Sharif area of Bihar’s capital Patna while Nuruddin Jangi was arrested three days later from Lucknow by Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in the request of the Bihar Police.

    The NIA registered the case on July 22 night under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act following an order issued by the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directing the agency to take over the investigation from Bihar Police.

    Till date, five members of the group have been arrested in the case.

    PATNA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted raids in different places in Patna, Nalanda and Darbhanga districts in connection with Phulwarisahrif terror module case allegedly linked to extremist outfit – Popular Front of India (PFI).

    The NIA officials also raided the house of Mohammad Athar Parvez at Phulwarisharif in Patna. Parvez, a former member of banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), is currently lodged in Beur central jail in Patna.

    Earlier, an NIA team reached Singhwara in Darbhanga district early Thursday morning and started search for Mustkin, a resident of Shankarpur village. The raiding team also conducted a raid at ancestral house of Sanaullah alias Yakib and Nariuddin Jangi.

    In Nalanda, the NIA team was on the look out of Mohammad Siraz alias Lalbabu, Faiz and Mohammad Asgar Ali, stated to be closely associated with SDPI. Siyaz alias Lalbabu is stated to be district president of SDPI.

    A report from East Champaran said the NIA team was looking for Mohmmad Riayz Mauroof alias Bablu at Kuan village near Motihari. Riyaz is the general secretary of PFI.

    ALSO READ | Documents show PFI’s plot for making India an Islamic state by 2047

    In Patna’s Nayatola, the raiding team stumbled upon important documents in a rented house of Mohammad Athar, stated to be the leader of the group in Bihar. The entire locality had converted into a fortress in the wake of the search operation.

    The PFI ‘terror module’ case was recently unearthed by the Bihar Police with the arrest of three people for their alleged links with the group and their plans to indulge in “anti-India” activities.

    On Wednesday, the NIA carried out searches in Jamia Maria Niswa Madrasa located in Bihar’s East Champaran district and arrested a teacher identified as Asghar Ali. Mohammad Jalaluddin, a retired Jharkhand Police officer, and Athar Parvez were arrested on July 13 from the Phulwari Sharif area of Bihar’s capital Patna while Nuruddin Jangi was arrested three days later from Lucknow by Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in the request of the Bihar Police.

    The NIA registered the case on July 22 night under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act following an order issued by the Counter Terrorism and Counter Radicalisation division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directing the agency to take over the investigation from Bihar Police.

    Till date, five members of the group have been arrested in the case.

  • Patna SSP draws parallels between Islamic extremist body and RSS; BJP roiled

    By PTI

    PATNA: The BJP flew off the handle on Thursday after a senior IPS officer in Bihar sought to draw a parallel between its parent body RSS and an Islamic extremist organisation, a network of which was recently busted in the city.

    Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manavendra Singh Dhillon courted trouble for having said that PFI members arrested from Phulwari Sharif here underwent “physical training similar to what happens in RSS shakhas’ (branches)”.

    BJP leaders, including high-ranking ones like former Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and ex-deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi, expressed outrage, while others questioned the police officer’s soundness of mind and demanded his sacking.

    “I condemn the irresponsible and despicable utterance of the SSP of Patna, my parliamentary constituency, who has sought to compare the PFI, a known terrorist organisation, to a nationalist organisation like the RSS,” fumed Prasad, who represents Patna Sahib in Lok Sabha.

    “I have learnt that senior officials have taken note of the reprehensible conduct of the officer. I hope proper action will be taken,” added Prasad.

    When approached by journalists, Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters), J S Gangwar said the SSP could have spoken out of context “Comparing one organisation with another is wrong. We will speak to him on the issue and advise him to concentrate on investigating the case,” he said.

    According to Dhillon, a raid was conducted in Phulwari Sharif following a tip-off about “Islamic radicalisation” inside a premise owned by a retired police official of Jharkhand, where many people, some of them from far-off Kerala and Tamil Nadu, were undergoing “normal physical training, not armed training”.

    Altogether 26 people have been named in the FIR out of whom three, including the owner of the house, have been arrested since Wednesday night, said the SSP, adding, recoveries from the spot include propaganda material that spoke of “turning India into an Islamic state”.

    He ruled out any Pakistan links of the network, but said the “terror funding” angle was being probed and though the police had recently intensified its surveillance in view of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, there were “no indications” that the group was aiming at disrupting the VIP event.

    However, his offhand use of a simile triggered predictable outrage.

    Sushil Kumar Modi came out with a couple of tweets asking how could the police officer be loose tongued about RSS, which has had among its members top leaders like PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    Sushil Modi also demanded “a withdrawal of the statement and an apology” from the SSP, though stormy petrels wanted him to be booted out.

    “He has evidently lost his mental balance. He must be removed from his current assignment, which requires sensitivity and a sense of responsibility,” said Haribhushan Thakur Bachol, a BJP MLA.

    He also alleged that PM Modi “has been targeted by Islamic terrorists whenever he has visited Bihar, starting from the 2013 serial blasts”.

    The prime minister, the then Gujarat CM, had addressed his maiden rally in Bihar at the Gandhi Maidan here in October 2013, while several bombs went off at the venue.

    State BJP spokesman and OBC Morcha’s national general secretary Nikhil Anand alleged “it is not a slip of tongue by the Patna SSP, but a statement given in confidence and in a cool manner” to show his political affinity and keep masters in good humour.

    “He must apologise and if he wants to indulge in politics, he must resign,” Anand said, urging the state DGP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take note of the indiscretion and initiate “disciplinary action” against the officer.

    PATNA: The BJP flew off the handle on Thursday after a senior IPS officer in Bihar sought to draw a parallel between its parent body RSS and an Islamic extremist organisation, a network of which was recently busted in the city.

    Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manavendra Singh Dhillon courted trouble for having said that PFI members arrested from Phulwari Sharif here underwent “physical training similar to what happens in RSS shakhas’ (branches)”.

    BJP leaders, including high-ranking ones like former Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and ex-deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi, expressed outrage, while others questioned the police officer’s soundness of mind and demanded his sacking.

    “I condemn the irresponsible and despicable utterance of the SSP of Patna, my parliamentary constituency, who has sought to compare the PFI, a known terrorist organisation, to a nationalist organisation like the RSS,” fumed Prasad, who represents Patna Sahib in Lok Sabha.

    “I have learnt that senior officials have taken note of the reprehensible conduct of the officer. I hope proper action will be taken,” added Prasad.

    When approached by journalists, Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters), J S Gangwar said the SSP could have spoken out of context “Comparing one organisation with another is wrong. We will speak to him on the issue and advise him to concentrate on investigating the case,” he said.

    According to Dhillon, a raid was conducted in Phulwari Sharif following a tip-off about “Islamic radicalisation” inside a premise owned by a retired police official of Jharkhand, where many people, some of them from far-off Kerala and Tamil Nadu, were undergoing “normal physical training, not armed training”.

    Altogether 26 people have been named in the FIR out of whom three, including the owner of the house, have been arrested since Wednesday night, said the SSP, adding, recoveries from the spot include propaganda material that spoke of “turning India into an Islamic state”.

    He ruled out any Pakistan links of the network, but said the “terror funding” angle was being probed and though the police had recently intensified its surveillance in view of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, there were “no indications” that the group was aiming at disrupting the VIP event.

    However, his offhand use of a simile triggered predictable outrage.

    Sushil Kumar Modi came out with a couple of tweets asking how could the police officer be loose tongued about RSS, which has had among its members top leaders like PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

    Sushil Modi also demanded “a withdrawal of the statement and an apology” from the SSP, though stormy petrels wanted him to be booted out.

    “He has evidently lost his mental balance. He must be removed from his current assignment, which requires sensitivity and a sense of responsibility,” said Haribhushan Thakur Bachol, a BJP MLA.

    He also alleged that PM Modi “has been targeted by Islamic terrorists whenever he has visited Bihar, starting from the 2013 serial blasts”.

    The prime minister, the then Gujarat CM, had addressed his maiden rally in Bihar at the Gandhi Maidan here in October 2013, while several bombs went off at the venue.

    State BJP spokesman and OBC Morcha’s national general secretary Nikhil Anand alleged “it is not a slip of tongue by the Patna SSP, but a statement given in confidence and in a cool manner” to show his political affinity and keep masters in good humour.

    “He must apologise and if he wants to indulge in politics, he must resign,” Anand said, urging the state DGP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take note of the indiscretion and initiate “disciplinary action” against the officer.

  • Documents show PFI’s plot for making India an Islamic state by 2047

    By IANS

    PATNA: Three persons, including a retired police sub-inspector, were arrested after raids in the Phulwari Sharif area here which led to seizure of documents about the PFI’s ‘Mission 2047’ for making India an Islamic state, a police officer said on Thursday.

    Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manavjeet Singh Dhillon said the arrested individuals were providing training to the youth on terror activities.

    “During the raid, we have seized the flags of banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), pamphlets, documents of making the India Islamic state till 2047 and other sensitive documents were recovered from the place,” Dhillon said.

    Patna Police have registered FIR against 26 people and some of them were from Jharkhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.

    In Bihar, some of the accused belong to Patna, Darbhanga and other places.

    The police officer said that the arrested accused including a retired sub-inspector of Jharkhand named Jalaluddin, former Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) member Athar Parvez and Arman Malik were arrested by Patna Police.

    They are facing the charges of providing training to youths on Islamic extremism and terror activities

    According to sources, Athar Parvez’s brother Manzar Parvez was involved in an incident of bomb explosion in Patna, and he is currently in jail.

    “The accused were giving them training of Islamic extremism in the name of martial arts and physical training. We have seized documents from the training centre where proof for working against the unity and integrity of our country are established. We are scanning the bank accounts of the accused to find out the funding aspect,” Dhillon said.

    “The raids were conducted on the specific inputs for the intelligence bureau of the Delhi unit. Accordingly, a joint team of NIA and ATS conducted the raid and arrested them,” Dhillon said.

    “The preliminary investigation does not reveal any Pakistan connection. We are investigating the matter. The youth who had taken the training in the past will be arrested soon,” the SSP added.

    During the raid, the police also recovered a register wherein the names of youth were mentioned.

    The arrested accused have revealed that 12 youth were from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and they will be quizzed soon. The police suspect that it is a new terror module that was emerging from Patna.

    PATNA: Three persons, including a retired police sub-inspector, were arrested after raids in the Phulwari Sharif area here which led to seizure of documents about the PFI’s ‘Mission 2047’ for making India an Islamic state, a police officer said on Thursday.

    Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manavjeet Singh Dhillon said the arrested individuals were providing training to the youth on terror activities.

    “During the raid, we have seized the flags of banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), pamphlets, documents of making the India Islamic state till 2047 and other sensitive documents were recovered from the place,” Dhillon said.

    Patna Police have registered FIR against 26 people and some of them were from Jharkhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.

    In Bihar, some of the accused belong to Patna, Darbhanga and other places.

    The police officer said that the arrested accused including a retired sub-inspector of Jharkhand named Jalaluddin, former Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) member Athar Parvez and Arman Malik were arrested by Patna Police.

    They are facing the charges of providing training to youths on Islamic extremism and terror activities

    According to sources, Athar Parvez’s brother Manzar Parvez was involved in an incident of bomb explosion in Patna, and he is currently in jail.

    “The accused were giving them training of Islamic extremism in the name of martial arts and physical training. We have seized documents from the training centre where proof for working against the unity and integrity of our country are established. We are scanning the bank accounts of the accused to find out the funding aspect,” Dhillon said.

    “The raids were conducted on the specific inputs for the intelligence bureau of the Delhi unit. Accordingly, a joint team of NIA and ATS conducted the raid and arrested them,” Dhillon said.

    “The preliminary investigation does not reveal any Pakistan connection. We are investigating the matter. The youth who had taken the training in the past will be arrested soon,” the SSP added.

    During the raid, the police also recovered a register wherein the names of youth were mentioned.

    The arrested accused have revealed that 12 youth were from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and they will be quizzed soon. The police suspect that it is a new terror module that was emerging from Patna.

  • Kanpur clashes: ED seeks details of three persons held for funding main accused

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Monday,  approached Kanpur police seeking details of the three persons arrested in connection with violent protests in Kanpur on June 3 and their alleged link Popular Front of India (PFI).

    ED will scan their financial transactions to ascertain if there was any money-laundering by the three namely —  Saifullah, Mohammad Naseem and Mohammad Umar.

    It may be recalled that Kanpur had witness a communal flare-up in different localities when members of minority community took to streets to protest after Friday prayers on June 3 against the statement of Nupur Sharma, ex-BJP spokesperson, over Prophet Mohammad.

    Around a dozen persons were injured during the protests which took a violent turn as the protestors started hurling stones, crude bombs on common people while trying to force the shopkeepers to down shutters in Nai Sadak and Yateemkhana areas of the city after Friday prayers.

    The three persons allegedly linked with PFI came under the ED scanner after Kanpur police got the leads that they had funded the prime accused of Kanpur flare-up, Hayat Zafar Hashmi for mobilizing the crowd and staging the protest.

    “The three including Saifullah, Mohammad Naseem and Mohammad Umar, having affiliation to PFI, were also identified during violence against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019. They were arrested then also,” said Vijay Singh Meena, Kanpur police commissioner.

    As per ED sources, the transactions of the three arrested accused and also Hayat Zafar Hashmi would be scanned after getting their details and of the case from the Kanpur police.

    Last year, ED in its charge-sheet had said that Popular Front of India (PFI) men got finances from abroad to help their alleged bid to disturb communal harmony in Hathras after alleged gang rape of a minor girl which led to her death in September, 2020.

  • PFI link being probed in police station burning: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday claimed that investigators have found possible involvement of Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) in the burning down of the Batadrava Police Station in Nagaon district.

    Alleging that PFI and its college-level wing Campus Front of India (CFI) are engaged in activities to “destabilise” Assam, Sarma reiterated his government’s demand to the Centre to ban the two organisations.

    The Batadrava Police Station was set on fire on May 21 afternoon by an irate mob following the custodial death of a local fish trader, Safikul Islam (39), who was picked up by police the night before.

    “Right from the Gorukhuti, we always see PFI’s hand in the communal tension. Even in the latest Batadrava incident, when the Batadrava PS was burnt down, we are now picking up signals of involvement of PFI,” he added.

    The Assam government had sent a dossier to the Centre requesting PFI and CFI be banned for their alleged role in inciting people during the Gorukhuti eviction drive in Darrang district in September 2021, when two villagers were shot dead by the police.

    Sarma said, “Assam government is of the view that PFI and CFI should be banned. If you go to Baksa district, the kind training programme, literature they are distributing, show that they want to destablise Assam.

    “I hope and trust that the Government of India will give due consideration to the request of the state government.”

    Asked if Jehadi elements were behind the attack on Batadrava Police Station, the Chief Minister said that as the DGP has indicated accordingly, which means there are indicative clues.

    “Whether that clue has been converted to evidence, that is difficult for me to say right now because I have not reviewed the case. Last week of this month, I will visit Batadrava. Then I will know,” he added.

  • Two with suspected Popular Front of India links held for Darrang violence

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Two persons with suspected links with the Popular Front of India (PFI) were arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in the recent violence during an eviction drive in Assam’s Darrang. 

    The arrested Chand Mamud and Ashmmat Ali are the president of Sonowa Village Panchayat and former president of Bojona Pathar Village Panchayat respectively.

    “We arrested two persons last (Sunday) night and are verifying their links with the PFI. Our investigation is on,” Darrang Superintendent of Police Sushanta Biswa Sarma told The New Indian Express.

    A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the duo for criminal conspiracy, instigating violence and mobilising crowds on that day.

    On Saturday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had stated that the PFI visited the site of violence, prior to the day of the incident, in the name of distributing food items to the evicted families. The violence had left two persons dead and several others injured.

    Meanwhile, the state’s two principal opposition parties – Congress and minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) – are locked in a war of words for failing to protect the interest of the landless people who have been evicted.

    ALSO READ | Have proof for involvement of outsiders in Darrang havoc: Assam CM

    AIUDF legislator Karim Uddin Barbhuiya slammed the Congress for failing to give one bigha of land to each family despite a promise.

    “While serving as the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi had himself stated that each of the families would be allotted one bigha of land. The Congress did not fulfil the promise despite using these people for 40 years,” Barbhuiya said. 

    He added, “The AIUDF doesn’t do politics with the blood of the Miyas (Bengali Muslims). Our people died. (State Congress chief) Bhupen Bora and Himanta Biswa’s people had not died. The Congress has no business to enact this drama.”

    The Congress accused the AIUDF of toeing the ruling BJP’s line.

    ALSO READ | Police bullet cuts short ‘bright’ Assam teenager’s life

    “The AIUDF is speaking the language of the BJP for the fear of facing action. That’s why it is attacking the Congress. If there were no AIUDF, we would not have this problem,” Congress leader and former minister Rakibul Hussain said.

    The migrant Muslims in Assam are considered the AIUDF’s vote-banks. The leaders of AIUDF and some minority organisations met the CM on Monday and discussed the Darrang incident.

  • Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan among 8 PFI activists chargesheeted in UP

    By Express News Service
    LUCKNOW: The five-member team of the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police filed a 5,000-page chargesheet against eight members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Mathura court on Saturday. 

    The Mathura Additional District Judge and Sessions Court has posted the matter for the next hearing on May 1.

    Those named in the charge-sheet are Siddique Kappan (journalist), Atiqur Rehman, Rauf Sharif, Mohammad Danish, Alam, Masood Ahmad, Feroz Khan, and Asad Badruddin. All the accused have been charges with receiving funds to the tune of Rs 80 lakh from financial institutions based in Muscat and Doha for the purpose of creating unrest and riots in UP.

    Initially, the STF had arrested five PFI members including Siddique Kappan in Mathura on October 5, 2020, while they were on their way to Hathras allegedly to meet the family of the Dalit girl who was gang-raped in Boolgarhi village leading to nationwide outrage.

    As per the highly-placed sources, the STF has indicted the PFI members for plotting caste riots in Hathras and adjoining districts in the aftermath of the gang-rape of the Dalit girl who was also beaten up by the perpetrators with an intent to kill her. The victim, later, succumbed at Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi on September 29, 2020.

    The sources claimed that one among those named in the charge sheet by the STF included Mohammad Danish, who was also arrested by the Delhi Police for hatching a conspiracy to incite communal riots in northeast Delhi.

    ALSO READ | Campus Front’s Rauf funded Hathras trip of scribe Siddique Kappan, others: ED

    The STF sources claimed that those named in the chargesheet were booked under the charges of sedition, provocation with intent to cause riots, injuring or defiling places of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class, raising funds for the terrorist act under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Information Technology Act.

    On October 5, the UP Police had arrested the five PFI activists accusing them of having the intention to breach the peace. Journalist Siddique Kappan’s family in Kerala has conducted multiple protests in the state alleging foul play in the arrest and seeking his release.

    The PFI members — Kappan, Atiq-ur-Rehman, Masood Ahmad, Alam and Rauf — arrested earlier were booked under the stringent UAPA. The FIR against them claimed that they were going to Hathras with an intention “to breach the peace” as part of a “conspiracy”.

    Later, two more PFI activists — Feroz Khan and Asad Badruddin — were also held by the Special Task Force (STF) that had busted a terror plot on February 16, 2021, in Lucknow. A huge cache of explosives, arms, and incriminating documents was recovered from their possession. They were planning for a serial blast in Uttar Pradesh.

    During the last hearing on March 31, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (First) Anil Kumar Pandey in Mathura had posted the matter for hearing on April 3 as the STF had sought two more days to file chargesheet against them. Since the time limit to submit a chargesheet would expire on April 4, the STF filed it on Saturday.

    All the accused PFI members are lodged in a Mathura jail.

  • UP STF arrests PFI ‘training commander’ from Basti

    By PTI
    GORAKHPUR (UP): Police in Uttar Pradesh have arrested a man whom they alleged to be a “training commander” of the Popular Front of India (PFI).

    Mohammad Rashid was apprehended from near Basti railway station in Basti district of the state when he was trying to go to Mumbai via Lucknow to take part in the upcoming “meetings or training sessions” of the PFI, the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) said on Sunday.

    “Acting on a tip-off, an STF team late on Saturday night arrested Mohammad Rashid near Basti railway station.

    Police recovered some documents with anti-national material, a CD, which is suspicious, a fake Aadhar card and a mobile phone (from him).

    A case has been registered against him under various sections of the IPC at Kotwali police station in Basti,” Superintendent of Police, Basti, Hemraj Meena said.

    He said a probe has been initiated into the matter.

    The STF, in a statement issued in Lucknow, said, “During interrogation, the PFI training commander said the main aim, in order to spread their ideology, was that the youth from a particular community who are physically strong are brain-washed, and are imparted physical and weapons training and prepared to trigger an incident in any part of the country.”

  • UP STF gets 5-day custody of PFI’s student wing leader Rauf Shareef

    By PTI
    MATHURA: A court here sent Popular Front of India’s student wing leader Rauf Shareef to police custody for five days on Wednesday in a case of alleged funding of PFI members for creating unrest after the Hathras gangrape incident.

    The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) sought a 10-day remand of Shareef, against whom a production warrant had been issued by the court.

    Shareef had been brought from Ernakulam jail in Kerala where he was lodged after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in December in a money laundering case.

    Madhuban Datt Chaturvedi, counsel for Shareef, opposed the remand plea, saying the STF had not specified the reason for seeking his custodial interrogation.

    He urged the court to provide a translator for Shareef during the interrogation by the STF since he only understands Malayalam.

    He also requested a video recording of the interrogation process to make sure that Shareef’s replies reflect his understanding of the question.

    “Overruling the objections presented by the defence counsel, Additional District and Sessions Judge Anil Kumar Pandey on the request of the STF has sent Rauf Shareef to PCR for five days,” district government counsel Shiv Ram Singh said.

    Shareef’s counsel said he would now move the Allahabad High Court for relief.

    The remand will be from 10 AM on February 18 till 10 AM on February 23.

    The court had issued a warrant for production Shareef, who is the fifth accused in the case.

    In a remand report submitted in court in Kerala, the ED had alleged that Shareef, who is the leader of Campus Front of India, had funded the trip of Sidhique Kappan, a Delhi-based Kerala journalist, and three other alleged PFI activists to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, where a Dalit woman died after being allegedly gang-raped.

    Kappan and the three others were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police in October while they were on their way to Hathras.

    It was alleged they had “ulterior motives of disturbing social harmony and inciting communal riots” and were charged with serious offenses including sedition.

    The Uttar Pradesh government has been demanding a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI), accusing it of inciting riots in the state during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.