Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma calls for ban on PFI after police station arson

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has hinted that the police had found some leads that pointed towards PFI's involvement in the police station torching incident in Batadrava last month. Citing this, he has called for a ban on the Islamic organisation.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has indicated that the recent violence in Batadrava, during which a police station was burned down, was orchestrated by extremist Islamic organisation Popular Front of India (PFI). Alleging the PFI’s hand in communal violence in Assam, Sarma called for a ban on the organisation, including its student wing, Campus Front of India.

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“We always see PFI’s hand in communal violence. Even in the latest Batadrava incident, we are picking up signals of the involvement of the PFI. So, the Assam government is of the view that PFI and CFI should be banned,” he said

He said PFI and CFI were openly carrying out activities and distributing literature in a bid to destabilise Assam.

“I have asked the Union Home Minister [Amit Shah] to ban the outfit. However, banning an organisation needs several legal measures. I hope the Centre gives this request due consideration,” he said.

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Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he is yet to fully review the Batadrava case. “I shall visit Batadrava at the end of this month and will be able to comment on the case further after that,” he said.