The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two accused from Rajasthan in an unlawful activities case linked to the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) on Friday.
The arrested accused–identified as Vajid Ali and Mubarak Ali, both from Kota, along with the previously charge-sheeted accused Mohammed Asif, Sadik Sarraf, and Mohammed Sohail, were involved in organising weapons training camps in Jaipur and Kota regions in Rajasthan.
Their conspiracy and activities included the recruitment of members/cadres to the PFI to commit violent acts to instil fear among the general public. These acts were also extended to inciting religious hatred, radicalisation of Muslim youth and fundraising for the commission of terrorist acts. In pursuance of the conspiracy, accused Sadiq Sarraf and Mohammad Ashif were radicalizing Muslim youth to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts in various parts of India, including the State of Rajasthan.
Investigations uncovered that the arrested accused, Vajid Ali and Mubarik Ali, along with the previously charge-sheeted accused individuals, Mohammed Asif, Sadik Sarraf, and Mohammed Sohail, were involved in organising Weapons Training Camps in Jaipur and Kota, where they provided weapons training to young cadres of the organisation with the aim to achieve the long-term agenda of the PFI i.e. establishing Islamic Rule in India by the year 2047 and to overthrow the democratically elected central government through violent acts.
PFI collected funds from members of the Muslim community under the guise of Zakat, which is meant for charitable purposes. These funds, instead of being utilised for welfare and charitable activities, were being used instead to support Weapons trainers and training being organised by the PFI. It’s noteworthy that the Central Government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) in September 2022.
