New Delhi: Four activists of the proscribed Popular Front of India (PFI) have been arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, an official said on Thursday. The activists who have been held from Panvel in neighbouring Raigad district include a local member of the banned outfit's state expansion committee, a local unit secretary and two other workers, according to the official, reported news agency PTI.
The arrested accused members of the outfit from Panvel have been identified as PFI Panvel Secretary Abdul Rahim Yakub Sayyad along with members Moiz Matin Patel, Mohamad Asif Khan and Tanvir Hamid Khan, according to the news agency ANI.
The ATS team conducted a search in Panvel, located about 50 km from Mumbai to get hold of the activists. "After questioning, the activists were placed under arrest in a case registered at the Kalachowki unit of the ATS in Mumbai under section 10 of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the official said. Further probe into the case is on, he added.
Last month, banned the PFI and several of its associates for five years, accusing them of having "links" with global terror groups like ISIS. The organisations which were also declared banned under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA include Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CF), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
The action of the Centre comes days after a nationwide crackdown on the 16-year-old PFI, arrest of over a hundred of its activities and seizure of several dozen properties.
More than 250 people allegedly linked with the PFI were detained or arrested in raids across multiple states last month.