PFI had 3 lakh supporters and more than 25 thousand members in Kerala. The NIA detained several PFI supporters on 22 September 2022.
New revelations have emerged in the two-year-long ED investigation against banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) in India. The ED said on Friday that PFI has more than 13,000 active members in Singapore and the Gulf countries, who are responsible for raising funds worth crores of rupees.
According to news agency ANI, the PFI has formed District Executive Committees for the migrant Muslim community living in the Gulf countries. These committees were entrusted with the responsibility of collecting funds.
The ED said funds of crores of rupees collected from abroad were sent to India through different banking channels as well as hawala, so that these funds could not be traced. These funds were used to carry out terrorist activities to PFI officials and terrorists based in India.
In September 2022, NIA and ED raided PFI locations across the country. In which many leaders associated with PFI were arrested. He was prosecuted under UAPA. After the raid, the central government banned the PFI organization on 28 September 2022. ED has been investigating against PFI since then.
4 disclosures in ED investigation
- Investigations have revealed that the objectives of PFI are different from those stated in its constitution. PFI presents itself as a social movement, but investigations have revealed that PFI's real objective is to create an Islamic movement through Jihad in India.
- PFI claims that it will use peaceful and non-violent methods to achieve its objectives, but investigations have revealed that under the guise of physical education classes, PFI was practicing violent methods such as punching, kicking, knife attacks and caning.
- None of the PFI locations present in the country are registered in the name of PFI. The premises of physical education classes were also registered in the name of dummy owners.
- In 2013, PFI's physical education classes at the Narath Arms Camp in Kannur district, Kerala, provided explosives and assault weapons training. Its aim was to promote enmity between different religions and prepare PFI members for terrorist activities.
278 arrests were made in 2 days
This image is from September 22, 2022, in which police are taking PFI members into custody protesting NIA raids.
The NIA, ED and state police conducted massive raids on the PFI and its associated organizations on September 22 and 27. 278 were arrested in 2 days. Investigating agencies have found sufficient evidence against PFI. After which this action was taken.
3 reasons for 5 year ban on PFI
- of PFI Risk from Activities: PFI and its associated organizations were running illegal activities. These activities pose a threat to the unity, integrity and security of the country. Their activities can also pose a threat to the peace and religious harmony of the country. This organization was secretly creating a feeling among a section of the country that there was insecurity in the country and thereby promoting radicalism.
- Secret Agenda of PFI: From the criminal and terrorist cases, it is clear that this organization has shown disrespect to the constitutional power of the country. It has become a major threat to the country's internal security due to the funding and ideological support it receives from outside. PFI is openly a socio-economic, educational and political organization but it is working on its secret agenda of radicalizing a certain section of the society. This is destroying the democracy of this country. It does not respect the constitutional framework.
- Reason for strength of PFI: PFI formed its affiliates, aiming to increase access to youth, students, women, imams, lawyers and weaker sections of society. PFI's sole objective behind this increased access was to increase its membership, influence and fundraising capacity. The organization's wide reach and fund-raising capabilities were used by the PFI to expand its illegal activities. These collaborative organizations and fronts continued to strengthen the core of PFI.
Formed 18 years ago, PFI was spread across 23 states In the year 2006 Manitha Niti Pasarai (MNP) and National Development Fund (NDF) came together to form Popular Front India (PFI). The organization was initially active only in the states of South India, but now it has spread to 23 states including UP-Bihar.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
