Ban on PFI: Profiles of some of its top leaders and office bearers

The Centre has banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by issuing a gazette notification late Tuesday night.

Here are profiles of some of its top leaders and office bearers who have also been arrested during nationwide raids carried out against them this month:

1. O M A Salam, PFI chairman

Salam, an employee of the Kerala State Electricity Board, has been "suspended" and is facing departmental inquiry owing to his links with the PFI. He is also associated with the Rehab India Foundation (RIF), alleged to be a front of the PFI.

Also Read: PFI, LTTE: Full list of organisations banned in India

2. Anis Ahmed, national general secretary

Ahmed who studied in Bengaluru is an important "cog" for expanding the cyber activities and presence of the PFI. He was working with a global telecommunications company, from where he was suspended recently, and probe agencies found him to be "proactive" on social media, news channels and for making comments/reactions on current issues and is seen vocal/critical about the central government's policies and governance.

3. P Koya, national executive council member

A former "active" member of the banned SIMI, he went to Qatar in 1986 to work at a private company for three years. He later worked as a lecturer at the Kozhikode University in Kerala.

Koya acted as the director of Islamic Youth Centre (IYC), Kozhikode that propagates "Islamic ideology, which actually nurtures Islamic fundamentalism and Muslim militancy", the probe agencies say.

4. E M Abdur Rahiman, national vice-chairman

Rahiman is a retired librarian from the Cochin University of Science and Technology located in Ernakulam district of Kerala. He has been a former president of SIMI. Federal agencies say he is a "very influential leader of PFI and also a decision maker".

Also Read: CPM in Kerala on the defensive over coalition party's alleged PFI links

5. Afsar Pasha, national secretary

Pasha, a businessman, is an "active member" of the PFI since its formation in 2006.

6. Abdul Wahit Sait, member of the national executive council

He hails from the Cutchi Memon community based in Shivajinagar, Bengaluru, and is a "founding member" of the radical Islamic organisation (PFI) and runs a software solutions enterprise.

7. Mohammed Shakib alias Shakif, national secretary (media and public relations)

A founding member of the PFI, he owns a real estate business.

Also Read: SDPI terms ban on PFI 'direct blow to democracy'

8. Minarul Sheikh, president, PFI West Bengal.

A PhD from Aligarh Muslim University, he conducts coaching classes and does research work.

9. Mohammed Asif, president, PFI Rajasthan

He initially joined Campus Front of India (CFI) while pursuing graduation and became its national general secretary. Was appointed PFI state vice-president in 2013-14.

He is very "active" and "responsible" for the spread of organisation across the state in a proactive manner, the agencies said.