Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Sep 13: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested Mahboob Alam Nadvi, the Bihar state president of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), in connection with the 2022 Phulwari Sharif criminal conspiracy case. Alam, a resident of Hasanganj in Katihar district, was apprehended from Kishanganj and becomes the 19th person arrested and charge-sheeted in the case, originally registered by local police against 26 individuals.

The case involves a deep-rooted conspiracy by PFI operatives to incite communal tensions and disrupt national harmony. According to the NIA, the group was engaged in anti-national activities, including the spread of radical ideology aimed at instilling fear and promoting enmity between religious communities.

Investigators said the PFI was pursuing a long-term plan to establish Islamic rule in India, a vision outlined in a document titled “India 2047 Towards Rule of Islam in India”, seized from a property in Phulwari Sharif, Patna, on July 11, 2022.

Mahboob Alam is alleged to have played a key role in implementing this conspiracy, taking part in recruitment drives, training sessions, and clandestine meetings to advance the organisation’s goals. He also reportedly raised and distributed funds to support PFI operations and its cadres.

The NIA is continuing its investigation under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P)A), and believes Alam’s arrest could yield significant leads. Authorities say the crackdown on PFI operatives across the country remains a top priority for national security agencies.