East Champaran (Bihar), September 12 (HS): The state president of the banned PFI organisation, Riyaz Maroof alias Bablu, arrested from Chakia in the East Champaran district of Bihar, has given many important pieces of information to the National Investigation Agency during interrogation. The NIA is now preparing to take him on remand.
It has been told that despite the ban on PFI, Riyaz continued to expand the organization. Even after FIRs were registered in Phulwari Sharif and Baruraj, he held meetings in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, West Champaran, and East Champaran and connected hundreds of youths to the organization. He has told the investigating agency that he also organised training camps for the youth associated with the organisation in Baruraj, Muzaffarpur, and Jale, Darbhanga. Besides, many camps were also organised in the border areas of Nepal.
During NIA interrogation, Riyaz told me that he had joined PFI in 2020 through Mehsi resident Yakub Khan alias Sultan alias Usman, who introduced him to Biharsharif resident Shamim Akhtar. Later, he was given the responsibility of vice president in the organization. After PFI was banned, Riyaz contacted Sanaullah of Darbhanga and Mohd. of Madhubani. Tausif, along with Belal Ahmed and Qadir Ansari of Baruraj, held about two dozen meetings like a sleeper cell for the expansion of the organisation.
He has said that to connect the new youth with PFI, first a religious event is organised, in which the sentiments of the youth are instigated by showing video clips of cruelty and atrocities. Then their WhatsApp group is created, and such video and voice messages are continuously sent to them.
An official of the investigating agency said that according to Riyaz, PFI people are active in about five districts of Bihar bordering Nepal and are working as sleeper cells. The local police and NIA are continuously conducting raids to identify and arrest them.
Hindusthan Samachar/ Indrani Sarkar
