Many active members of banned PFI were government employees, tech experts

New Delhi: The central government on Wednesday banned the Popular Front of India (PFI), for its alleged involvement in several incidents of violence and having "links" with global terror groups. The five year-ban applies to several of its associate organisations as well.

Meanwhile, reports show many of the PFI's leaders held well-off positions across the country with some of them even working for the state governments. Members of PFI include teachers, tech experts, librarians and clerical staff, the Times of India (TOI) said in a report.

1. PFI Chairman OMA Salam is an employee at the Kerala government-owned Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). He was suspended by the board in 2020 over 'grave misconduct. "During the inquiry, it has been revealed that Muhammed Abdul Salam Ovungal (OMA Salam) is holding the office as a chairman in the national level of an outfit which is under the scanner of various investigation agencies for its alleged activities and dubious fund transactions that appeared in various media. It has also been substantiated that the incumbent has made several foreign trips without the prior sanction," the KSEB had said before confirming Salam's suspension.

2. PFI's national vice-chairman EM Abdur Rahiman is a retired librarian who worked at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) -- one of Kerala's top universities. The former SIMI leader played a crucial role in the formation of PFI's associate organisations like Campus Front of India and Confederation of Human Rights Organisation, the TOI report said. Abdur Rahiman is a director board member of Students Islamic Trust, New Delhi.

3. National general secretary P Koya used to be a college teacher in Ernakulam district of Kerala before entering journalism. He also contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Malappuram on an SDPI ticket.

4. National general secretary Anis Ahmed from Karnataka was a global technical manager at Ericson before he was expelled. He used to feature in news channels to comment on political developments.

5. National executive council member Abdul Wahit Sait, who was recently arrested in Karnataka, runs an IT from offering software solutions to businesses. He was among the founding members of the now banned organisation, the report said.

6. Minarul Sheikh, the president of PFI's West Bengal unit holds a PhD from AMU, the report said. He takes coaching classes for youngsters apart from research-related work.