Hathras case: ED to start probe into PFI links over Rs 50 crore 'funding' to incite caste, communal violence
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- Published: October 7, 2020 13:15
New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement is going through documents and twenty-one FIRs which have been filed by the UP Police for spreading fake information, violating the prohibitory orders and Covid-19 guidelines. The Popular Front of India (PFI), the Kerala-based Muslim organisation, has once again been accused of “conspiring” to instigate communal violence in Uttar Pradesh
As per sources, the ED may soon register a case to probe if dubious funds were used for allegedly fuelling caste-based protests in the garb of protests over the reported gangrape of a 19-year-old in Hathras.
As per sources, the ‘Justice for Hathras’ platform launched by alleged conspirators through this portal was being used to spread hate speeches, edited pictures, fake news, edited videos amongst others to incite “ethnic and communal violence.” Links of the Popular Front of India (PFI), the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Amnesty International and foreign countries were found through the website.
A journalist, who contributes for a popular Kerala-based website, and three other men were arrested in Mathura Monday over alleged links to the PFI after the UP Police received information that “suspicious people were on their way to Hathras from Delhi”.
Four persons who were apprehended from Mathura on 5th October & had links with PFI, ‘were going to #Hathras to disrupt peace as part of larger conspiracy’, as per FIR registered against them.
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 7, 2020
According to the police, their mobile phones, laptop, and some literature have been seized.
As per the FIR registered against them, four of them have had links with PFI and ‘were going to Hathras to disrupt peace as part of larger conspiracy’
The main focus of the ED will be to investigate whether the Popular Front of India members were involved in protests. “The ED will look into how the protests started. PFI members who were active in anti CAA protests and Delhi riots are also under the scanner.
PFI members have been investigated by multiple probe agencies for funding and financing anti-Citizen Amendment Act protests and riots in Delhi.
