The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Security agencies’ meet discusses status of cases against PFI since Sept ’ 22
IN A recent meeting of the Standing Focus Group ( SFG) along with the state police and the NIA , calle d by the Intelligence Bureau ( IB), the agencies discussed the status of cases filed by the state police and central agencies against the banned Popular Front of India ( PFI) since September 2022.
The key points discussed included efforts to arrest the former leaders who are still absconding or have fle d the country; details of persons visiting jailed PFI leaders; whether Friday prayers in jail where PFI leaders are lodged being monitored, and any migration of PFI leaders/ cadres to other organisations.
“The number of arrested leaders and former PFI leaders, who are accused in their cases, but are now absconding was also discussed. All the concerned police were asked to share efforts by them to nab these absconding leaders and were asked to share their points with each other,” a source said.
In the last three years, the National Investigation Agency ( NIA) lodged multiple cases against the PFI and conducted raids in several states Bihar, UP, Punjab, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala in order to collect evidence against the accused and suspects in their cases.
In their meeting, a source said, all the state police were asked to share specific details of the people visiting jails to meet the arrested leaders, how many of the leaders got bail and on what grounds.
“All the officers were asked whether Friday prayers in jail where PFI leaders are lodged are being monitored and with whom they are talking in jails. All the police officers also shared their notes related with the modus- operandi of PFI for collecting funds and also social media activities of ex- cadres of PFI from abroad,” the source said.
An official in the Central agencies said the arrested accused had “conspired in committing terrorist acts, recruited members for furthering their extremist ideology and imparted training to commit terrorist activities, organised mass drills for displaying their might by gathering their members in combat uniforms, intending that the participants in such activity shall be trained to use criminal force for violence against other religious communities to spread fear or alarm or insecurity among members of other religions.