Kerala PFI General Secy Abdul Sattar Disbands Outfit, Arrested Hours Later

Abdul Sattar was allegedly absconding after he called for a Kerala bandh on September 23 against nationwide raids on the offices of PFI.

The PFI was on Wednesday banned by the Centre along with its several associates for five years

The general secretary of the banned Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), Abdul Sattar, was arrested from Kerala's Karunagappally hours after he announced in a Facebook post that the the outfit was dissolved, PTI reported. The PFI was on Wednesday banned by the Centre along with its several associates for five years.

"All PFI members and public are informed that the Popular Front of India (PFI) has been dissolved. MHA has issued a notification banning PFI. As law-abiding citizens of our great country,the organisation accepts the decision," Abdul Sattar said.

Sattar was allegedly absconding after he called for a Kerala bandh on September 23 against nationwide raids on the offices of PFI and arrests of its leaders. He is expected to be handed over to the NIA, PTI reported.

The September 23 bandh turned violent after PFI activists went on a rampage, damaging buses, public property and even attacking the general public.

The bandh was called after multi-agency teams, spearheaded by NIA, last week carried out raids at 93 locations in 15 states across the country and arrested over 100 PFI leaders for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

Kerala, where the PFI has some strong pockets, had accounted for the maximum number of 22 arrests.

Besides PFI, Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation, National Women's Front, Junior Front and Empower India Foundation were banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said PFI had "links" with global terror groups like ISIS. It said PFI's founding members were leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the PFI has links with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Both JMB and SIMI are banned organisations.

"PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to increase the radicalisation of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations," the notification claimed.

"Whereas, the Central government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of the firm opinion that it is necessary to declare PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts association outlawed with immediate effect, and accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, declares it as outlawed," it said.

(With inputs from PTI)