Jharkhand Bans Radical Islamist Outfit Popular Front Of India For Reported Terror Links With ISIS 

The Jharkhand government on Tuesday (12 February 2019) banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged connections with global terror group the Islamic State (IS), reports India Today. This is the second such ban on the organisation in the state.

The ban on PFI has been issued under Section 16 of The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908.

The state government led by Chief Minister Raghubar Das had banned the group previously on 20 February 2018 for the same reason of its members coming under the influence of IS. However, the ban had been set aside by the High Court of Jharkhand in August 2018.

"The state has banned the Popular Front of India, which is active in Jharkhand, under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908. The Home Department had recommended the ban," a statement by the government said.

The statement added that PFI was active in Pakur district and that the workers of the organisation, which was founded in Kerala, were coming under the influence of IS. A report by the Home Department had revealed that some members of the organisation from South India had left the country to go to Syria to join IS.