Patna’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manavjit Singh Dhillon has been issued a show-casue notice over his recent comments where he compared banned extremist Islamic organisation, Popular Front of India (PFI) to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) shakhas. During a media briefing, he said that PFI trains youth in martial arts just like RSS shakhas, which has enraged political entities in Bihar, which is ruled by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and JD(U) coalition party. According to the show-cause notice, SSP Dillon is expected to give an explanation of his comments.
SSP Dhillon’s remarks came after Patna police busted a terrorist cell and captured two suspected terrorists. During the raid, the police found many documents that detailed the cell’s plan of turning India into an Islamic state by 2047 as well as a plan to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the state on July 12. The police believe that these documents were to be circulated among the PFI.
Recently, SSP Dhillon referenced PFI and said, “The organization worked at Masjids and Madrassas to mobilize youths and worked to radicalize them. The modus operandi was similar to that of RSS shakhas. They train the youth under the guise of physical education and spread their agenda. We got documents of camps teaching martial arts and training members to use sticks and swords under the guise of physical training. The document was being used to radicalize, brainwash and mobilize people.”
He further said, “Organisations like the PFI have several underground cells. The accused held meetings in their name and organized training camps for its members. Their general vision document said that if people of the Muslim community are tortured and suppressed, they will work to protect them.”
These comments have angered the political leaders who have taken offense at Dhillon placing PFI and RSS at the same level. Some are also demanding that Dhillon be removed from his post.
