Police Arrested 5 PFI Members from Kanpur for Inciting Violence

Police arrested 5 members of Kerala's extremist organization Popular Front of India (PFI) on charges of inciting violence against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Kanpur. They have been arrested on the basis of input from intelligence agencies. An investigation by the Kanpur police has revealed that the violence and sit-in protests against the CAA protests in the city from December 15 till date were funded by PFI. Along with this, the ongoing demonstration in Mohammad Ali Park Chamanganj has also been reported to be conducted through this fund.

Minor protests in Kanpur over the CAA protests started from December 15, but the big uproar occurred after the Friday prayers. Three people were killed and a dozen injured in firing, stone pelting and arson following violence in Babupurwa. Thousands of people from Yatimakhana broke the prohibition and took out a procession in a large part of the city, causing chaos in the entire city. On the second day there was a bloody clash with the police at Yatimkhana, in which more than 40 people were injured. There are sporadic protests even now. Women have been agitating for more than a month at Mohammad Ali Park.

Recently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation found that Kerala's extremist organization PFI provided funds for the protest. SSP Anant Dev said that input was received from central agencies that PFI is behind the ruckus in Kanpur. PFI has spent huge amount here for this. The input to the probe was confirmed. Some bank accounts of extremist organizations are under police watch. According to the SSP, PFI funds are also being used in the sit-in demonstration at Mohammad Ali Park.

How much PFI funding the CAA protests in Kanpur is not being officially stated, but an estimate is that PFI spent 10 to 12 crores to incite the mob in Kanpur. About 10 bank accounts have been used for this.