New Delhi. NIA on Wednesday arrested one more prime accused in the Bihar case relating to the banned Popular Front of India, taking the total number of arrests in the case to15.
22year old Yaqub Khan@ Sultan@ Usman, a resident of Distt East Champaran, Bihar, has been arrested in the case, pertaining to unlawful and anti-national activities of PFI cadres & members. NIA had earlier arrested 14 accused and seized several incriminating articles/documents related in the case. Four accused were charge sheeted in the case on 7th January 2023.
Investigations have revealed that Yaqub Khan was an expert Arms Trainer of the PFI and had conducted many training sessions in furtherance of the outfit’s aggressive & violent agenda and activities. He had arranged arms and ammunition to attack a youth from a particular community in order to wreak revenge and to whip up communal hatred. He had also uploaded controversial videos on social media to promote enmity among the communities.
Yaqub Khan was on run since the houses of PFI syndicate were raided/searched in early February this year. After the ban on PFI by the Central Government, he was in contact with FIR named accused Reyaz Moarif, and his associates Md Belal@ Irshad, and Afroz. He was also in contact with his Dubai (UAE) based associate Md Sajjad Alam through WhatsApp. He first concealed himself in Bettiah district of Bihar, with his aunt and thereafter, at Pokhra, Nepal with another accused Md Irshad Alam who has been since arrested in this case on 18th March. Later Yaqub Khan went to Mumbai and stayed there with another aunt at Dharawi and with a friend. Returning from Mumbai in April 2023, he remained with his friends/associates/relatives in East Champaran, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar.
NIA has seized SIM cards and mobile phone of Yaqub and are examining them for further leads in the case.
According to NIA investigations, PFI continues to promote its toxic and communal agenda, ideology and activities even after its ban. Its members and cadres have been engaged in efforts to arrange arms and ammunition to carry out attacks and other criminal activities.
The case was initially registered on 12th July, 2022 at PS Phulwari sharif, District Patna, and re-registered by NIA on 22nd July, 2022.
