Popular Front of India- PFI banned for 5-years.

 National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED), along with paratroopers and local police raided Popular Front Of India organization offices in several states and arrested more than hundred leading members. The Indian Express says the National Investigation Agency launched a massive nationwide search operation in connection with anti – terror activities. The searches, according to news agency PTI, are part of a crackdown against those allegedly involved in terror funding, organizing training camps, and radicalizing people to join proscribed organizations.

The Indian Express further says that in response to the operation, the PFI in a statement said:”We strongly protest the fascist regime’s moves to use agencies to silence dissenting voices.” The PFI’s presence has stretched to more than 20 states since its creation in 2006. It identifies itself as “neo-social movement” with a vision to empower all marginalized sections in India. The Hindustan Times says the Union Home Ministry is all set to include Islamist Popular Front of India in the list of already 42 banned terrorist organizations under Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention0 Act , 1967. The relevant section of the UAPA, 1967, reads that an organization shall be deemed to be involved in terrorism if it commits or participates in acts of terrorism; prepares for terrorism or otherwise involved in terror

The Hindustan Times further says that it is understood that the national security planners are legally examining the evidence collected and the violence post arrest of PFI leaders before they recommended banning of the Islamist organization. According to NIA, the organization is India recruiter and radicalizer for global jihadist groups including al Qaeda, Pakistan – based Jaish – e – Muhammad and Lashkar -e-Toiba.

The offices of PDF are located mostly in Muslim dominated areas. The government action immediately saw protests by PFI supporters. The organization that may be banned soon is not conjured up suddenly. Its formation is the result of the merging of three organizations operating from three different states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. All these three states are from South India. The three organizations were

1. National Development Front from State of Kerala
2. Manitha Neethi Pasarai from State of Tamil Nadu
3. Forum for Dignity from State of Karnataka  

National Development Front was founded in 1994. The Thomas P Joseph commission report and the Secretary of the Communist Party of India ( Marxist) have referred to it as a terrorist outfit. BJP accused it of having links with Pakistan.

Manitha Neethi Pasarai is a Muslim organization in Tamil Nadu. It operates the Islam centered Tamil magazine ‘Vidiyal Velli’ – the largest circulated Muslim journal. Hindustan Times reported on May 16, 2022, that NIA – National Investigation Agency started investigation against members of MNP for allegedly trying to float anti-national organizations and having links with IS.

The Forum for Dignity from the state of Karnataka was founded in 2001, and its members were accused of kidnapping and murdering two students in Mysore. A ransom of more than One Crore rupees was demanded for their release. The NIA expressed interest in the investigation of this case in 2011 for possible angle of funding. However, the PFI leaders denied any involvement of the group in this case.

After the merging of these three groups into PFI, the footprints of the organization started to spread across the nation. It diversified and added a political and student wing. The Social Democratic Party of India – SDPI, which is a political branch of PFI, became operational in 2009 in New Delhi.

National Investigation Agency raided 93 locations across 15 states and arrested 106 workers. It is alleged that in Pune, the state of Maharashtra, the protesters shouted Pakistan Zindbad slogans, turning it into anti-national activity. Sept. 27 also saw more than 200 PFI members arrested by NIA in its second lap of raids across the country. It appears that the NIA is making its case stronger with additional collection of evidence for the possible ban on the organization.

 8.00 am As per the latest news came in, the PFI is banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in India for 5 years.