‘PFI had links with terror organizations Al Qaeda and ABT’

Team Udayavani, Oct 21, 2022, 11:14 AM IST

Bengaluru: Investigation has allegedly revealed that 7 Popular Front of India (PFI) detainees had links with extremists of Al-Qaeda and Bangladesh-based terror group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT).

On September 22, seven PFI activists — Anif Ahmed, Afsar Pasha, Abdul Wahid Seth, Yasir Arfat alias Yasir Hassan, Mohammad Shakir alias Shakif, Mohammad Farooq ur Rehman of Mysore, and Shahid Naseer of Kalaburagi — were arrested in Bengaluru. Among these, Yasir Arfat of RT Nagar in Bengaluru was taken to Delhi for further questioning.

A case under the Unlawful Activities Control Act (UAPA) has been registered against the arrested accused.

After the Bengaluru raids, Assam PFI State President Aminullah Haque and West Bengal Division Chief Dr. Mineralul Sheikh were arrested in a joint operation by the Assam and West Bengal Police with the NIA. It was reportedly discovered that both, Sheikh and Haque, had links with Al Qaeda and the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) of Bangladesh.

According to sources, the 7 accused collected money for funding jihadi activities. When the money trail was investigated, the involvement of Al Qaeda and ABT came to light. The money sourced from these organizations was distributed in the state as well. It is alleged that the money was used in CAA and NRC protests.

-Translated from Kannada report by Mohan Bhadravati