In a significant revelation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated on Friday that the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) had more than 13,000 active members spread across Singapore and various Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. According to the ED, these members were allegedly tasked with the collection of funds intended to finance the organization’s unlawful and terrorist activities in India.
The investigative agency highlighted that the PFI had established well-structured District Executive Committees (DECs) in these regions, specifically targeting the Non-Resident Muslim diaspora for financial support. Each committee was reportedly given a target of collecting several crores of rupees, playing a key role in generating funds abroad.
The ED noted that the funds raised in foreign countries were funneled into India using a combination of legitimate banking channels and illegal underground “hawala” networks. This strategy made it difficult for authorities to trace the original sources of these funds. Once transferred to India, the money was handed over to PFI members and office bearers to finance a wide range of unlawful activities, including terrorist training, the ED claimed.
PFI’s ban and alleged hidden agenda
The central government banned the PFI under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on September 28, 2022, following a nationwide crackdown by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that led to the arrest of several of its senior leaders. The government cited serious concerns over the organization’s role in promoting extremism and terrorism.
On Friday, the ED’s statement offered further insights into the alleged real objectives of the PFI, which it claimed were far different from the group’s publicly stated mission. The ED alleged that the PFI’s true goal was to establish an Islamic movement in India through the use of “Jihad.” According to the ED, although PFI presented itself as a social movement with claims of engaging in non-violent protests, the evidence revealed that the organization’s methods were often violent in nature.
The ED’s findings aligned with reports from previous investigations, which have portrayed the PFI as using its platform to sow division and promote enmity between different religious groups. The ED described the PFI’s activities as being aimed at destabilizing the country and carrying out acts of violence, all while trying to maintain a veneer of legitimate social activism.
Arms training under the guise of physical education
One of the most alarming allegations in the ED’s statement is the claim that PFI was secretly providing arms training to its members under the pretext of conducting “Physical Education” (PE) classes. The ED noted that these so-called PE classes were used to impart combat skills, including offensive and defensive maneuvers, through various techniques involving blows, punches, kicks, and knife and stick attacks.
The ED further alleged that these training sessions were often conducted on properties registered under the names of dummy owners to avoid detection. It pointed out that PFI did not have any properties registered under its own name, making it more difficult for law enforcement to track their activities.
The ED cited a notable example from 2013, known as the Narath Arms Camp case, where PFI was accused of organizing an arms training camp in Narath, located in Kannur District of Kerala. During this camp, the organization allegedly provided training in the use of explosives and weapons to its members, with the stated goal of promoting enmity between religious communities. The ED claimed that the purpose of these training camps was to prepare PFI cadres for future terrorist activities.
Ongoing investigations and implications
The ED’s investigation continues to shed light on the complex and secretive operations of the PFI, particularly its network of foreign supporters and financial backers. According to the ED, the funds collected from abroad were critical to sustaining the PFI’s operations in India, enabling it to organize and fund activities that allegedly threatened national security.
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The PFI’s extensive network of members in Singapore and the Gulf region has raised concerns about the global reach of extremist organizations operating under the radar, leveraging diaspora communities for fundraising and support. The revelations have also added to the ongoing debate over the role of non-resident citizens in financing extremist activities back home.
As the investigation moves forward, authorities are expected to continue scrutinizing the PFI’s international connections and financial transactions in a bid to dismantle its funding mechanisms and hold accountable those involved in the illegal transfer of money.
The case against the PFI underscores the broader challenge that India faces in combating extremism and terrorism, not only within its borders but also from external actors and supporters. The ED’s findings have heightened the urgency for greater oversight of financial flows from abroad, especially in regions known to have large diaspora populations.
With the PFI already banned and its top leadership arrested, the ED’s investigation is likely to have far-reaching consequences for the organization’s supporters and its ability to operate, both within India and overseas.
