Jharkhand bans Popular Front of India over alleged IS links

The Popular Front of India (PFI) has been banned under Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908, a government statement said.

The Jharkhand government has banned Popular Front of India (PFI), saying its members were “internally influenced” by the IS. An official release issued on Tuesday said: “The action has been taken following a proposal of the Home Department/ police on which the Law department has also given its consent”.

The release also mentioned that PFI has been most active in Pakur district. “Popular Front of India started in Kerala. The members of this organisation are internally influenced by the ISIS. Inquiry by Special Branch has revealed that some members of this organisation have gone secretly to Syria from the South Indian states and (are) working for ISIS,” it said.

One event cited in news reports in the background of the ban is a recent attempt by the PFI to celebrate its Foundation Day in Pakur and put up posters in the town, under the slogan “School Chalo (lets go to school)” programme, planning to distribute school bags and kits. The police conducted a flag march for a couple of days in the town and took down the posters.

Reports also mention that in July 2017, the PFI filed a complaint before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, in which it accused Pakur SP Shailendra Prasad Barnwal and two other police officers of torture in custody of some people from the minority community after a BJP leader, Hisabi Rai, was booked for allegedly inciting “gau rakshaks” for violence. But the reaction of Barnwal on this could not be obtained by newsmen.

Jharkhand's Principal Secretary (Law) Dinesh Kumar Singh said the decision to ban PFI has been taken in the wake of several reports of their increased activity.

(With input from IANS)