Government Bans PFI(Popular Front Of India) For 5 Years

“With funds and ideological support from outside, it has become a major threat to the internal security of the country”

The Government of India has ordered to ban the PFI(Popular front of India) for 5 years over the alleged involvement in terror activities and funding.

This happened after the Central government raided the offices and officials of the controversial organization all over India for more than a week.

The GOI has declared the PFI and its affiliated organisations as an “unlawful association” under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act).

pfi members in rally (PFI) — PFI members in rally (PFI)

The organization has been alleged to have a connection with the Islamic State(ISIS), Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Besides, PFI has also been accused of being involved in several terror activities.

“With funds and ideological support from outside, it has become a major threat to the internal security of the country” accused the Home Ministry.

The ministry also accused PFI of “chopping off the limb of a college professor” and cold-blooded murders of people associated with the organizations for supporting the cause of other faiths.

The three states of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka had recommended the ban on the controversial outfit.

Along with PFI, its allied organizations like the National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), Campus Front of India (CFI), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Rehab Foundation, Kerala, Empower India Foundation and All India Imams Council (AIIC)– were also banned.

Raids on PFI Offices

Earlier, on 22nd September, the raids were done in PFI and its associated organization offices in 93 locations in 15 states Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala, Delhi, Goa, West Bengal, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh.
On Tuesday, another round of search operations was done by NIA – Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, and Telangana.
More than 170 PFI activists have been detained or arrested till now.

PFI: Controversial History

This is not the first time PFI has been in news for the wrong reasons. Earlier too, the Central government alleged the Islamic organisation of carrying out terror activities.

OMA Salam, CURRENT PFI Chief — OMA Salam, Current PFI Chief

Although it had already been started in 1993 after the Babri Masjid incident, the official foundation of PFI was laid in 2006 with the merger of the Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) and the National Development Front (NDF).

It was basically formed to counter the Hindutva groups in the country.

Murders of rivals

The infamous Islamic organization has been accused of murdering members of rival organizations.

In 2012, the Kerala Government said in an affidavit to Kerala Highcourt High Court that PFI had 27 active charges of murders, mostly of CPI-M and RSS workers.
In August 2016, a carpenter Pasha was arrested for 6 murders. He had links with PFI too.
On 6 July 2012, members of the CFI and PFI allegedly stabbed N. Sachin Gopal, a student of Modern ITC, Kannur and the district leader of ABVP. Another student leader Vishal was murdered. Gopal later succumbed to his injuries in Mangalore on 6 September 2012. SIT was formed to investigate the case
In February 2019, a member of PMK, Ramalingam was murdered after an argument. 18 members of PFI were arrested. Later in 2021, the chief conspirator Rahman Sadiq was arrested after hiding for a long.
On 21 May 2022, the slogans were raised against Christians and Hindus by PFI and warned them to live peacefully.

Links to terrorist organizations

The PFI is often alleged to its links with the banned Islamic terrorist organisation Students Islamic Movement of India(SIMI).

PFI is often alleged to have links with SIMI

There have been several officials who held different posts in both outfits once.
The PFI’s national chairman in 2010, Abdul Rehman, was the ex-national secretary of SIMI, while the organization’s state secretary, Abdul Hameed, was the terror organization’s ex-state secretary.
The Kerala Government had also appealed for the ban on PFI calling it nothing but a resurrection of the banned outfit.
In November 2017, 6 members of PFI were identified as joining the Islamic State.

The controversial organization has also been accused of giving arms training, forcing religious conversion funding anti-CAA protests and many other unlawful activities.