UP police shift focus on PFI, may seek its ban
LUCKNOW: Even as the Popular Front of India’s (PFI) name cropped up in the alleged conspiracy to spark violence during the anti-CAA protest in UP, the the state police may suggest banning the organization, which remained in oblivion for almost 9 years.
The police have been investigating the role of PFI in the violent protests that claimed 21 lives across state, including 6 in Ferozpur, 5 in Meerut.
Among 1100 people arrested, 21 are those having link with the PFI, which has led the cops to probe its role.
PFI’s name had last cropped up in 2010, when it’s members were booked under section 153A(promoting enmity) and 153 B(imputations, assertion prejudicial to national integration) at Safdarganj area of Barabanki district.
Police last week arrested three PFI office bearers in Lucknow in connection with the violence. Over a dozen other were booked in Shamli. Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh had recently told mediapersons that 25 members of PFI had been arrested from across the state in connection with the violence.
A senior officer of the home department on condition of anonymity said, “We are examining the participation of PFI after many of its members were found to be involved in anti-CAA protests. The decision on banning the group will be taken if their participation is found in the violence.”
SSP of Lucknow Kalanidhi Naithani, who was part of the investigation regarding involvement of PFI members in violent anti-CAA protest in Lucknow, said, “The group member called people on the pretext of peaceful protest and later incited violence. Text messages exchanged by PFI members on social media platform proved that they planned for a violent protest.”
Vineet Jaiswa, SP Shamli said, “Police arrested four people for attempting to disrupt communal harmony and violating section-144 in Kairana area on December 20. They claim they are workers of Popular Front of India, Social Democratic Party of India. Investigation is on and more facts are expected to be revealed.”
As many as 16 close chat groups have been identified where the PFI group members called for violent protest in the state, said cops.
PFI is active in over a dozen districts of UP, including Shamli, Muzzafarnagar, Meerut, Bijnor, Lucknow, Barabanki, Gonda, Bahraich, Varanasi, Azamgarh and Sitapur, police said.
A total of 10 FIRs have been lodged against the group in different districts of including Barabanki, Sitapur, Muzzafarnagar, Meerut and Bijnor for putting up inciting posters in the past.
In Lucknow the group came into light in July this year when the group members allegedly pasted posters bearing it’s name with images of mob lynching.
On the other hand, PFI members have refuted the claim of the police officials and maintained that their members were not involved in the violence during anti CAA protests in any manner.
“The police are acting against PFI on the direction of the state government that is against the organisation and people who work for marginalised society. Uttar Pradesh police is trying to hide its failure of preventing violence by putting the onus on PFI,” said Incharge of northern region Anis Ansari