India bans Muslim group Popular Front of India for alleged terror links

NEW DELHI, Sep 28 (SABAH): India has declared the Muslim group, Popular Front of India (PFI), and its affiliates unlawful, accusing them of involvement in “terrorism” and banning them for five years, after authorities detained more than 100 PFI members this month.

“The Popular Front of India and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been found to be involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the Constitutional set up,” India’s Home Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement said the government has banned PFI and its affiliates Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation, National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.

The government said it found a “number of instances of international linkages of PFI with global terrorist groups”, adding that some of its members had joined the ISIL (ISIS) armed group and participated in “terror activities” in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The PFI came together in late 2006 to counter Hindu-nationalist groups and was launched formally the next year with the merger of two other southern India-based organisations. It calls itself a “social movement striving for total empowerment” on its website.

The group on Tuesday last had denied accusations of violence and anti-national activities when its offices were raided and dozens of members detained in various States.