Delhi Police Files Case Against PFI Under UAPA, Seals Three Offices

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Monday registered a case against the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The case was registered at the Shaheen Bagh Police Station.

Delhi police are also reported to have sealed several properties owned by the PFI in Delhi

According to reports, three offices of the PFI in Delhi were sealed by the police. The ground floor of Jaid Apartment, the ground floor of Hilal house in Abu Fazal Enclave Jamia Nagar and Tehri Manzil Jamia in Delhi were sealed. The offices were sealed under section 8 of the UAP Act.

Earlier, on September 27, the Central government had issued a notification that imposed a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates, declaring it to be an 'unlawful organization' under the same Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The action was taken on the premise of 'threat to the internal security' of India, due to the banned outfit's links with terror funding from outside the country and its attempts to radicalize the youth and try to enlist them in their organisation.

The home ministry, in announcing the ban, said in a statement the PFI and its affiliates had "been found to be involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional set up".

The decision came nearly after several nationwide raids and arrests of over 240 people connected to the PFI

A notification on the development read that PFI and its affiliate organisations or fronts have been declared "unlawful association" with immediate effect under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Apart from terming it an unlawful organization, the government said that it has linkages with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

The PFI came together in late 2006 and was launched formally the next year with the merger of three organisations based in south India. It calls itself a "social movement striving for total empowerment" on its website.

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