The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force on Sunday conducted raids at the Popular Front of India office in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area. Various other PFI premises in Delhi were also raided by the UP police officials. The raids were conducted after UP STF questioned PFI student wing general secretary Rauf Sherif.
Earlier on Tuesday, The UP Special Task Force arrested two members of the Popular Front of India who were allegedly planning a series of attacks at various places in the state and target those holding important positions in Hindu organisations
Last year in December, Sherif was detained by the Enforcement Directorate from Trivandrum airport in connection with a money laundering case. During raid, the ED had found that the PFI leader Rauf Sherif illegally received a sum of nearly Rs 2 crores from Oman and Qatar in 2020. Officials suspect that these funds were meant to be used for subversive activities. He was lodged in the Kochi jail following the detention.
Sherif was also warranted by the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with the Hathras case. The STF brought Sherif from Kerala on a production warrant last week. Sharif is accused of funding and conspiracy behind violence in Hathras and rioting during the anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh.
The STF officials seized pamphlet, CDs and DVDs and pen drives, poster, placards and banners from PFI’s Shaheen Bagh office. Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh, Prashant Kumar said the organization was planning an attack at important places in the state and target those holding important positions in Hindu organizations.
The STF had sought 10-day custody of Sherif, a UP court granted a 5-day remand from 10 am today till 10 am on February 23.
The Popular Front of India had formed in Kerala in 2006 after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992. The PFI claims to have units in 22 states.
The PFI’s four associates Siddique Kappan, Ateequr Rehman, Masood ahmad and Alam, belonging to the PFI were arrested by the Mathura Police on October 5 last when they were on way to Hathras.
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