Centre bans Popular Front of India, so what next?
India Today
The Union government has banned the Popular Front of India for five years over terror links. A UAPA tribunal will decide whether to confirm the ban or cancel it based on arguments from both the Centre and the PFI.
The Union government on Wednesday banned the radical outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates for five years, citing threats to security and terror links. A total of nine organisations have been declared "unlawful" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The Centre will now send the notification to the Unlawful Activities Prevention tribunal, headed by the sitting Delhi High Court judge, within 30 days. The tribunal will decide whether or not there is enough cause to declare PFI as "unlawful".
READ | Centre to approach UAPA tribunal to make ban on PFI permanent
So, what happens now to members of PFI, bank accounts and offices of banned organisations' functionaries?
Union Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai told India Today that members of the organisation will be arrested and its offices will be completely shut down. The bank accounts of PFI and its associated front will also be frozen immediately.
He further stated that there would be a complete travel ban on PFI members. The law enforcement agencies will continue with the investigation into the cases and will also ensure all activities related directly or indirectly to PFI are stopped.
ALSO READ | Why has the Centre banned Popular Front of India?
