The Anti Terrorist Squad of Uttar Pradesh police on Sunday arrested two men from Varanasi over their alleged association with the banned Popular Front of India.?
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According to a press statement issued by the police, the accused -- Parvez Ahmed and Raees Ahmed -- had been absconding in a 2022 case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and were carrying an award of Rs 50,000 each on themselves.
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Both the accused were involved in spreading radical ideology of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Varanasi. The two were wanted in a couple of cases lodged in Varanasi under various sections of the IPC and UAPA, it said.
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PFI was banned by the Union government last year for its involvement in unlawful activities.
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The ATS said the duo was also involved in activities against the state during the anti-CAA/NRC protest of 2019.
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The duo used to get trained in PFI sessions held in several states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. The two used the training to build a cadre and were living in hiding since the last year, the statement added.
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Officials said the arrests were part of a day-long special campaign conducted by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) against the PFI in the state.
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As part of the operation, field units of ATS Noida, Saharanpur, Meerut, Moradabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Azamgarh were activated, the statement noted.
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Thirty special teams were formed for the raids at various places in the state and about 70 people were questioned.
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“Intensive interrogation of the suspects is on. Data analysis of their electronic gadgets and social media presence is also being done to know about their ‘anti-national’ activities. Further legal action will be taken based on inquiry and more analysis,” it added.