NIA files chargesheet against 2 PFI members for using Zakat money for terror activities

New Delhi | Updated: 14 March, 2023 5:40 pm IST
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed its first chargesheet in one of its cases against the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) naming two accused from Rajasthan for raising Zakat (charity) for procurement of weapons.

The duo are also accused of organising weapon and explosives Training Camps for PFI cadres and their plan to establish Islamic Rule in India by 2047.

An NIA official here said that the agency filed a chargesheet against Mohammad Ashif aka Asif of Kota and Sadiq Sarraf of Baran in Rajasthan under several sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The official said that Ashif and Sarraf were trained PFI members, who were involved in recruitment and radicalisation of impressionable Muslim youth for the PFI for committing violent acts.

“They were also found involved in organising Training Camps in handling of weapons and explosives, instigating PFI cadres to pick-up arms and raising funds for carrying out violent activities. They were also found actively promoting enmity between different religious groups in India and motivating the youth to resort to violent means to establish Islamic rule in the country,” the official said.

The NIA also alleged that Ashif and Sarraf radicalised gullible Muslim youth by brainwashing them to believe that Islam was in danger in India and it was therefore essential for PFI cadres and the community to train themselves in use of of arms for protecting Islam and establishing Islamic rule in India by 2047.

“The accused persons were collecting funds in the name of Zakat for procurement of weapons and organising weapon and explosives Training Camps for PFI cadres,” the official said.

The NIA had registered a case in September 2022 to probe the criminal conspiracy, which had been hatched by PFI leaders or cadres with the aim of driving a wedge between different communities in India through radicalisation and arms-training of gullible Muslim youth, training them in handling of weapons and explosives and raising funds for carrying out acts of terror and violence with the ultimate objective of establishing Islamic Rule in India by 2047.

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