Yogi government writes to Home ministry seeking ban on PFI
After reported how the Uttar Pradesh police has been investigating links between the recent violent clashes in Meerut and other parts of the state to the Popular Front of India (PFI), the Yogi Adityanath government has written to the Union home ministry seeking ban on the organisation.
The UP police claims that it has enough evidence to prove that the PFI members were behind the violence during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.
The home department of the state government has written a letter to the union home ministry on Monday seeking a ban on the organisation.
UP Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh in his report also mentioned that the PFI members instigated violence in several parts of the state and recommended ban on the organisation.
Speaking exclusively to India Today, Singh said, “We have arrested active members of the PFI in connection with the violence during the anti-CAA protests. There are other organisations as well. We have impounded objectionable content from them including literarture and videos. The data of their mobile phones are also being extracted to get more details.”
Additional director general( ADG) law and order PV Ramashastri said, “More than 25 members of the PFI have been arrested from different parts of the state. We have documented all the evidences and detailed report has been sent to the home ministry for further action.”
Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maruya said, “Some former members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) have joined the PFI and they had fanned protests in different parts of te state. Such anti-social elements will not be spared and our government will ban the PFI.”
The Lucknow Police on December 24 arrested three members of the PFI, including the state president, who according to cops was the mastermind behind the violence.
Those arrested were identified as Waseem Ahmad, state president of PFI, Nadeem, treasurer, and Ashfaq, divisional president. The Lucknow Police claimed that the PFI members distributed pamphlets, placards and other offensive material on the CAA and NPR.
