Advocate Muhammad Yusuf, a colleague of dubious journalist Siddique Kappan, accused in a UAPA case, has revealed shocking details about the functioning of the Popular Front of India (PFI) to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Yusuf and Kappan were working in National Council for Human Rights Organizations (NCHRO) set up by the PFI to provide legal support to arrested terrorists and coordinate with other like-minded organizations to run agenda-driven campaigns. NCHRO, now an outlawed outfit, ran a campaign against Indus Scrolls and its MD G Sreedathan after Newslaundry published a series of articles to support PFI and Kappan’s cause.
Newslaundry journalist Akanksha Kumar was given award and cash prize by ISI-funded Indian American Muslim Council for publishing “distorted and fake reports”.
Yusuf, a Kannadika, told how cleverly chosen cadres were being indoctrinated and put in hit squad to undertake jihadi activities. The hit squads are unleashed to eliminate political rivals.
Yusuf and Kappan who were working in NCHRO’s Delhi office were tasked with providing legal aid to the accused in Delhi riots. This is clear from a WhatsApp chat between PFI leader P Koya and Yusuf. In March 2020, Yusuf informed Prof P Koya, the master brain of PFI, that Kappan has already taken charge in NCHRO. After taking charge, Kappan writes to Koya: “Yesterday I reached Delhi and took charge in NCHRO. Yusuf saheb is here. How to go about it, Koya saheb will tell me, no?” These WhatsApp chats are part of the chargesheet NIA has filed in the case.
Arrested along with top brass of PFI, Yusuf is now lodged in Tihar jail.
Kappan had replaced Reni I Linu. Upset with the expulsion, Reni allegedly leaked information about Kappan’s links with Islamist outfits to mediapersons. After the arrest of Kappan and subsequent sealing of his room in NCHRO where he was putting up, Reni was rehabilitated in NCHRO’s Kozhikode office.
After his release, Kappan, flouting bail conditions, has been giving interviews to Islamist and Leftist media outlets wherein he has been making wild allegations against the UP Police. In one interview to an Islamist media outlet, he alleged that the UP Police had taken him to police station in a car with a BJP flag. In some interviews, he mentioned the names of witnesses which amounts to violation of UAPA norms.
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