NIA arrests banned PFI Bihar president in 2022 Phulwarisharif criminal conspiracy case

National Investigation Agency (NIA) | Representative image

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested Mahboob Alam alias Mahboob Alam Nadvi, the Bihar president of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), in connection with the 2022 Phulwarisharif criminal conspiracy case.

Alam, a resident of Hasanganj in Bihar’s Katihar district, was nabbed from Kishanganj, the agency said in a statement. He is the 19th accused to be arrested and charge-sheeted in the case, which was initially registered by the local police against 26 people.

According to the NIA, Alam was an active part of the PFI conspiracy outlined in a document titled "India 2047 Towards Rule of Islam in India, Internal Document: Not for circulation," which was seized from Ahmad Palace in Patna’s Phulwarisharif on July 11, 2022.

"Along with co-accused persons, Alam was engaged in recruitment, training, meetings and anti-national activities of the PFI. He also raised funds and provided the same to the co-accused and PFI cadres," the agency said.

The case pertains to PFI associates involved in unlawful and anti-national activities intended to create an atmosphere of terror by fostering religious enmity among members of different communities, the NIA noted.

"The case is related to activities prejudicial to peace and harmony, and intended to disrupt public tranquillity and cause disaffection against India, justifying the use of criminal force," it said.

Members of the outfit were accused of spreading fear among the public through the promotion of its ideology, which sought to establish the rule of Islam in India as envisaged in the seized vision document, the agency added.

With inputs from PTI