Surendra malaniya
Popular Front of India (PFI)- a name which resonates whenever there is a violent activity in India involving Muslims directly or indirectly. The incidents cover a wide range of criminal spectrum including murder, kidnapping, political killings, money laundering, terrorism etc. Police and other investigation agencies have declared this organisation as dangerous and harmful to the unity and integrity of India. However, the PFI leadership through its well-oiled social media army has time & again claimed that they are victims of political conspiracy. Whenever there is a police action against the organisation or the leadership, they play the Muslim victimization card. The matter doesn’t seem to be as simple as it appears. A detailed analysis about various charges against the organisation will only clarify about the truth behind the claims.
Premier investigation agency of India - National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently investigating various cases on PFI whose details can be easily accessed through its website https://www.nia.gov.in/. NIA generally investigates those cases which have Pan-India implications. The case details are too large to be shared in a single article owing to word limitations. However, the confusion about the claims and counter claims can’t be dispelled unless a few cases related to PFI or its sister organisations are mentioned.
In the year 2010, the National Investigation Agency investigated the hand chopping case of Professor T. J. Joseph in Kerala. In 2015, NIA Special Court, Ernakulam, Kerala pronounced judgment in this case convicting 13 accused persons. In another case, a group of persons belonging to PFI/SDPI organized a terrorist camp at Narath, Kannur District, Kerala to impart training to some youth for using explosives and weapons, with an intention to prepare them for terrorist activities, and to commit acts endangering the unity and integrity of the Nation. Trial of the case is completed against 22 charge sheeted accused and all were convicted by the court. PFI’s nefarious designs were further exposed with registration of another case by NIA under 120B of IPC and Sections - 18, 18-A, 18-B of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 as amended against three individuals: Sheikh Azhar Al Islam Abdul Sattar Sheikh, Mohammed Farhan Mohammed Rafiq Shaikh and Adnan Hussain Mohd. Hussain- all belonging to PFI, along with their other unknown associates for their were involvement in a conspiracy to identify, motivate, radicalize, recruit and train Indian citizens located both in India and other countries for planning and executing terrorist attacks in India and in other friendly countries. Again in 2019, NIA filed a case for murder of one Ramalingam, in Thanjavur district, on 05.02.2019, by PFI leaders.
Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 17 members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with the Bengaluru riots case. The NIA took over the probe related to violence at D J Halli Police station, Bengaluru in August 2020. Till date 187 people with linkage to PFI/SDPI have been arrested so far.
Apart from NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the PFI in multiple cases, including its role in the anti-CAA stir and the northeast Delhi riots, and a foreign funding case in 2018. ED is also probing alleged links between the PFI and Bhim Army and their role in funding unrest amongst the disadvantaged groups in north India. Recently, ED conducted nationwide raids on premises linked to the radical outfit, Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with multiple cases of money laundering. The searches covered 26 locations across nine states, including premises associated with PFI Chairman O M Abdul Salam and national secretary Nasarudheen Elamaram. State police of different states including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala etc. are currently probing hundreds of cases against PFI and its sister organisations.
Contrary to the claim of PFI, the organisation has been found to be involved in a number of cases which are not only criminal in nature but also detrimental to the security and integrity of India. The future of the nation will depend on the shoulders of those in power with a clear vision to safeguard the interests of the nation.
