Written by  Mukesh Ranjan

The anti-terror federal probe agency NIA on Friday said that it has arrested two accused, identified as Vajid Ali, son of Sabir Ali and Mubarik Ali, son of Abdul Sattar, both residents of Kota district in Rajasthan.

The NIA in an official statement alleged that its 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.

“They provided weapons training to young cadres of the organisation with the aim to achieve the long-term agenda of the PFI of establishing Islamic Rule in India by the year 2047 and to overthrow the democratically elected central government through violent acts,” the NIA alleged.

The NIA said that during investigation it was revealed that Mohammad Ashif, also known as Asif, Sadiq Sarraf and Mohd. Sohail, all being trained cadres/members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and they were involved in a criminal conspiracy.

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The agency said the 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 alleged.

The PFI was declared a banned organisation under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act -UAPA by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in September 2022 following reports from the NIA and intelligence agencies.

“Their conspiracy and activities included recruitment of members/cadres to the PFI for the purpose of committing violent acts with the objective of instilling fear among the general public,” the NIA alleged.

The acts of conspiracy also extended to inciting religious hatred, radicalisation of Muslim youth, organisation of training camps and fundraising for the commission of terrorist acts. In pursuance of the conspiracy, accused Sadiq Sarraf and Mohammad Ashif were radicalising Muslim youth to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts in various parts of India, including the State of Rajasthan.