New Delhi, Sep 28: The Central government on Wednesday declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its 8 associates, affiliates or fronts, including its student wing (CFI) as “unlawful association” under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for a period of five years.
The MHA has also issued another order empowering States to notify places associated with PFI and its front organisations where unlawful activity is taking place.
In a notification, MHA said some of the PFI’s founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and have linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are banned organisations.
The ban comes days after the National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate and various state/UT police conducted a nationwide, coordinated crackdown against the PFI in cases relating to terror activities, terror funding, terror training and radicalisation of vulnerable persons by leaders and cadres of the outfit.
Hundreds of its leaders and cadres have been arrested over the past few days as part of the multi-agency, multi-state swoop.
The eight ‘associates, affiliates or fronts’ of PFI which were also banned are Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
The ban was recommended by the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat, the Centre stated in the notification banning PFI and its fronts.
