BJP demands ban on PFI, Kochi lecturer case be probed by NIA

Demanding a ban on the outfit whose activists allegedly chopped off the hand of a lecturer for preparing an "inflammatory" question paper, a BJP team which visited Kochi to look into the incident today said the case should be investigated by National Investigation Agency.

"The Popular Front of India (PFI) should be banned as it is involved in unlawful and extremist activists and is connected to terrorism," senior BJP leader and MP Haren Pathak said here.

The four-member fact finding team, comprising of Pathak, senior lawyer and BJP executive member Pinki Anand, Goa party unit vice-president Wilfred Mesquita and media co-convenor Balasubramanium will submit its reports to party president Nitin Gadkari tomorrow.

"We demand that the case should be investigated by NIA as it has been proved that some local and international Talibanis are involved," Pathak said.

TJ Joseph, a college teacher, was attacked by a group for setting an examination paper in which questions allegedly derogatory to Prophet Mohammad were asked. The attackers, allegedly belonging to PFI cut off his hand.

The BJP has also demanded a white paper from the Kerala Government on terrorist activities in the state and the steps being taken to check them.