Security agencies’ meet discusses status of cases against PFI since Sept ’22
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.
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.
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In a recent meeting of the Standing Focus Group (SFG) along with the state police and the NIA, called 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 fled 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.
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“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.
Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security.
Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat.
During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More