PFI Forms Killer Squads To Spread Terror, Establish Islamic Rule By 2047: NIA

'Service Team' members were trained to assault and kill identified targets on the instructions of senior PFI leaders, the NIA chargesheet stated.

In September 2022, the Union Home Ministry banned the PFI, its associates, and affiliates for a period of five years.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) formed secret teams called 'Service Teams' or 'Killer Squads' to carry out killings of its 'perceived enemies' and targets in line with its agenda of establishing Islamic rule in India by 2047, the National Investigation Agency mentioned in a chargesheet filed on Friday before a special court in Bengaluru. The chargesheet pertains to the killing of Praveen Nettaru, a district committee member of BJP Yuva Morcha, on July 26 last year in Bellare village of Sullia Taluk in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district.

According to a report by news agency ANI, the chargesheet was filed against 20 PFI members and it further mentions, "these 'Service Team' members were given arms as well attack training and surveillance techniques training in order to identify, list out and to mount surveillance on individuals and leaders belonging to certain communities and groups". 

"These 'Service Team' members were further trained to assault and kill identified targets on the instructions of senior PFI leaders," the NIA stated, as quoted by ANI.

Conspiracy meetings by PFI members and leaders were held at Bengaluru city, Sullia Town, and Bellare village and as per the chargesheet, "the head of district Service Team Mustafa Paichar was instructed to recce, identify and target a prominent member of a particular community".

"As per instructions, four persons were recced and identified and among them, Praveen Nettaru, who was a BJP Yuva Morcha member, was assaulted and killed on July 26 last year in full public view with lethal weapons to create terror among the people at large and especially among members of a particular community," the chargesheet mentioned, as per the report.

Of the 20 accused PFI members, six are absconding and rewards have been declared for information leading to their arrest in the case. The accused are Mahammed Shiyab, Abdul Basheer, Riyaz, Mustafa Paichar, Masud KA, Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, Abubakkar Siddik, Noufal M, Ismail Shafi K, K Mahammad Iqbal, Shaheed M, Mahammad Shafeek G, Ummar Farook M R, Abdul Kabeer CA, Muhammad Ibrahim Sha, Sainul Abid Y, Shekh Saddam Hussain, Zakiar A, N Abdul Haris, Thufail MH. 

The accused persons have been charge-sheeted under various sections of 120B, 153A, 302, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Section 25(1)(a) of Arms Act, ANI reported.

The PFI members who are absconding include Mustafa Paichar, Masud KA, Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, Abubakkar Siddik, Ummar Farook MR, and Thufail MH.

The case was registered on July 27 at Bellare Police Station of Dakshina Kannada district initially and then it was re-registered by the NIA on August 4 last year.

In September 2022, the Union Home Ministry banned the PFI, its associates, and affiliates for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by declaring it as an unlawful association.