Assam: Top PFI leaders arrested in Barpeta

The Assam Police have arrested 2 top leaders of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in Assam. Acting on specific inputs, the police arrested Abu Samad Ahmed who is the president of the PFI Assam Unit and Zakir Hussain, secretary of the Assam unit of PFI.

The police also arrested Campus Front of India (CFI)’s Assam president Jahidul Islam Mirdha. As per inputs, the PFI leaders were arrested after they had returned from Delhi.

As per reports, police have recovered Rs 1.5 lakh, four mobile phones and some pamphlets of the two outfits from their possession.

It may be mentioned, that the Centre on September 27 through a notification had banned Popular Front of India (PFI), its associates, and affiliates as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Alongwith PFI, the ban was also imposed on its fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF). Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an “unlawful association”.

The notification clearly mentioned that the ban has been imposed against PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts for “indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential of disturbing public peace and communal harmony of the country and supporting militancy in the country.

The ban resulted after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was constantly pushing the Centre for imposing a ban on the PFI and its affiliates for “their direct involvement with subversive activities and radicalization.”