NIA Files Chargesheet Against Two PFI Members From Rajasthan For 'Recruitment And Radicalisation' Of Muslim Youth

The NIA has submitted a charge sheet against two detained member of banned Popular Front of India (PFI) for their involvement in violent extremism activities in Rajasthan.

Two men from Rajasthan, Mohammad Ashif alias Asif from Kota and Sadiq Sarraf from Baran, have been charged in a special court under various IPC sections and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The NIA filed its first charge sheet in the case, which was originally registered on 19 September 2020, at NIA headquarters in New Delhi. Along with Ashif and Sarraf, Mohammad Sohail from Udaipur, another member of PFI, was also arrested and implicated in the case, according to an NIA spokesperson.

In September 2022, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) began investigating a criminal conspiracy orchestrated by PFI cadres to radicalise and arm impressionable Muslim youth in order to divide communities in India.

The group was training these individuals in the use of weapons and explosives, as well as raising funds to carry out acts of violence and terror in pursuit of their goal of establishing Islamic rule in India by 2047.

According to a spokesperson, Ashif and Sarraf are PFI members who have received training in recruiting and radicalising young Muslims for the purpose of committing violent acts.

They have been involved in organizing training camps for handling weapons and explosives, as well as raising funds to support violent activities. Additionally, they have been found to incite PFI cadres to take up arms.

According to the NIA spokesperson, the accused of the PFI (Popular Front of India) were found to be promoting hatred between different religious groups in India and motivating young Muslims to engage in violent means to establish an Islamic rule in the country.

The NIA also discovered that the PFI was radicalising naïve and vulnerable Muslim youth by brainwashing them into thinking that Islam was under threat in India.

The spokesperson added that the accused were encouraging the community to arm themselves to protect their religion and establish an Islamic rule in India by 2047.

NIA said the accused were collecting Zakat funds for buying weapons and conducting training camps for PFI members.