Two Bihar Residents Charged by NIA in Ongoing PFI Case

PATNA – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a Supplementary Chargesheet on Friday (12th January) against two individuals implicated in the Popular Front of India (PFI) case, pertaining to the banned outfit’s illicit and anti-national activities.

The charged individuals, identified as Md. Yaqub Khan @ Sultan @ Usman and Shahid Reza, both residents of East Champaran district in Bihar, face charges under various sections of the IPC, Arms Act, and UA(P)A.

A total of 17 individuals, including the two charged on this day, have been arrested in connection with the case. Initially registered by the Bihar Police against 26 individuals, the case was later re-registered by the NIA in July 2022.

Earlier, the NIA had charged 14 persons in the case, exposing a conspiracy by banned PFI cadres to instill fear and terror by fueling religious animosity among members of different faiths and groups. The conspiracy aimed to disrupt India’s peace and communal harmony, fostering disaffection against the nation, aligning with the PFI’s ideology of violent extremism and aspirations to establish Islamic rule in India by 2047.

Investigations in the case have unveiled that Md Yaqub Khan @ Sultan @ Usman was part of a PFI group recruited and trained for physical combat and violence. Having undergone clandestine training in martial arts and the use of weapons like knives, rods, choppers, swords, and firearms for inflicting harm and causing fatalities, Yaqub Khan played a key role in recruiting PFI cadres, organizing training camps, and using social media to endorse PFI’s activities and propagate its ideology. An expert Arms Trainer, Yaqub Khan conducted numerous training sessions to further the banned outfit’s aggressive and anti-India violent agenda.

In January 2023, when ‘Ram Shilas’ were being transported to Ayodhya via Mehsi region of East Champaran, Yaqub Khan shared a video of the event on social media, appealing to support the reconstruction of Babri Masjid instead of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Facing strong opposition and social media trolling, he arranged arms and ammunition to attack a youth from a particular community, seeking revenge and fostering communal hatred in response to comments on his communal post.

NIA’s timely intervention led to Yaqub’s arrest, thwarting his plans to create terror and disturb communal harmony. The agency seized prohibited firearms, ammunition, swords, and knives concealed by Yaqub with the help of his associate Shahid, intending to carry out unlawful and violent acts for the PFI. Subsequently, Shahid was also taken into custody.

Investigations further revealed that these PFI cadres were being funded from abroad, with funds channeled through a syndicate based in Karnataka and Kerala.