As Popular Front Gets Banned Over Terror Links, A Look At Its Top Leaders

The Home Ministry has banned the Popular Front of India or PFI over terror links under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by issuing a gazette notification late Tuesday night.

Here are profiles of some of its top leaders and office bearers who have also been arrested during nationwide raids carried out against them this month:

1. OMA Salam, PFI Chairman - Salam, an employee of the Kerala State Electricity Board, has been "suspended" and is facing departmental inquiry owing to his links with the PFI. He is also associated with the Rehab India Foundation (RIF), alleged to be a front of the PFI.

2. Anis Ahmed, national general secretary - Ahmed who studied in Bengaluru is an important "cog" for expanding the cyber activities and presence of the PFI. He was working with a global telecommunications company, from where he was suspended recently, and probe agencies found him to be "proactive" on social media, news channels and for making comments/reactions on current issues and is seen vocal/critical about the central government's policies and governance.

3. P Koya, national executive council member - A former "active" member of the banned SIMI, he went to Qatar in 1986 to work at a private company for three years. He later worked as a lecturer at the Kozhikode University in Kerala.  Koya acted as the director of Islamic Youth Centre (IYC), Kozhikode that propagates "Islamic ideology, which actually nurtures Islamic fundamentalism and Muslim militancy", the probe agencies say.

4. EM Abdur Rahiman, national vice-chairman - Rahiman is a retired librarian from the Cochin University of Science and Technology located in Ernakulam district of Kerala. He has been a former president of SIMI. Federal agencies say he is a "very influential leader of PFI and also a decision maker".

5. Afsar Pasha, national secretary - Pasha, a businessman, is an "active member" of the PFI since its formation in 2006.

6. Abdul Wahit Sait, member of the national executive council - He hails from the Cutchi Memon community based in Shivajinagar, Bengaluru, and is a "founding member" of the radical Islamic organisation (PFI) and runs a software solutions enterprise.

7. Mohammed Shakib alias Shakif, national secretary (media and public relations) - A founding member of the PFI, he owns a real estate business.

8. Minarul Sheikh, president, PFI West Bengal - A PhD from Aligarh Muslim University, he conducts coaching classes and does research work.

9. Mohammed Asif, president, PFI Rajasthan - He initially joined Campus Front of India (CFI) while pursuing graduation and became its national general secretary. Was appointed PFI state vice-president in 2013-14. He is very "active" and "responsible" for the spread of organisation across the state in a proactive manner, the agencies said.

(Photo Details: Popular Front of India's (PFI) (clockwise from top left) NEC member Abdul Wahid Sait, National Secretary Afsar Pasha, National General Secretary Anis Ahmed, West Bengal President and Empower India Foundation Liason Officer Minarul Sheikh, National Vice Chairman Em Abdur Rahiman, National Secretary VP Nazarudeen Elamaram, National Executive Council member and NCHRO National General Secretary P Koya, Chairman Oma Salam, National Secretary and Media & Public Relations In-charge Mohammed Shakib and Rajasthan President Mohammed Asif, who have been arrested during nationwide raids. The Centre has banned PFI under the anti-terror law UAPA)
 

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