UP govt sends report to Centre seeking ban on PFI for indulging in violence during anti CAA protests

Lucknow, January 3: Uttar Pradesh government has sent a report to the Centre seeking a ban on Popular Front of India (PFI) for indulging in violence during last month's anti-CAA protests.

 

State DGP OP Singh said told a press conference in Lucknow that the state home department sent its report after PFI's Uttar Pradesh head, Wasim, and 16 other activists were arrested for allegedly masterminding the violence in the state capital during protests.

He said, police have enough evidence of the involvement of the PFI in the recent violence during protests in Lucknow and other districts. DGP said, police are investigating the role of other groups including Rihai Manch who were also involved in the violence. He said that PFI was actively involved in violence that is why police have arrested 25 of their members.

Lucknow police has arrested of mastermind of the Lucknow violence Wasim and his two associates Nadeem, and Ashfaq. While Wasim is the state head of PFI, Ashfaq is the treasurer and Nadeem is a member. Police have also seized placards, flags, pamphlets, literature, newspaper cuttings, banners and posters for the anti-NRC or CAA protest from them.

On December 19, the situation was tense in Shamli and its Kairana town. Around 150 people were taken into preventive custody after the UP Police got intelligence inputs about the PFI "planning unrest" in Kairana and Kandhla towns of Shamli.

The PFI was formed in 2006 in Kerala as a successor to the National Democratic Front (NDF). Security agencies have alleged that its leaders have been groomed in the SIMI ideology. Earlier, UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma had said that the authorities suspect the role of the PFI and SIMI in the violence during the anti-CAA protests in the state.