Allahabad High Court disapproves use of term ‘South Terror’ in Popular Front of India case

It however doesn’t import malice, it says dismissing plea of accused to transfer probe to CBI

The Allahabad High Court has disapproved the use of the term “South Terror” by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad for the outfit Popular Front of India, two members of which were arrested in February on allegations that they were planning to target leaders of ‘Hindu’ outfits and strike at ‘sensitive’ spots in the northern state with terror attacks. The court made the observation while dismissing a petition filed by one of the accused men Anshad Badarudheen through his brother, who had sought transfer of the investigation in the case from the ATS to the CBI. Mr. Badarudheen’s counsel had argued that the investigation was not being carried out in a free and fair manner and alleged that the State authority and investigating agency were prejudiced and biased against the petitioner as he was a member of the PFI. The PFI, the petitioner’s counsels argued, had been labelled as “South Terror” on the portal of the U.P. ATS.