After two rounds of nationwide raids and arrests of over 240 members of the Popular Front Of India (PFI) in a week, the centre last evening banned the outfit for five years over alleged terror activities.

The PFI and its affiliate organisations have been declared an "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the government said, citing the outfit's links with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Islamic State or ISIS, and said the PFI is involved in several criminal and terror cases. "With funds and ideological support from outside, it has become a major threat to the internal security of the country," said a Home Ministry order.

After two rounds of nationwide raids and arrests of over 240 members of the Popular Front Of India (PFI) in a week, the centre last evening banned the outfit for five years over alleged terror activities.

The PFI and its affiliate organisations have been declared an "unlawful association" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the government said, citing the outfit's links with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Islamic State or ISIS, and said the PFI is involved in several criminal and terror cases. "With funds and ideological support from outside, it has become a major threat to the internal security of the country," said a Home Ministry order.