Uttar Pradesh is also investigating about PFI's funding and is in touch with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) along with other central agencies. (File photo: PTI)

As many as 108 members of the Muslim extremist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) have been arrested for role in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest violence in Uttar Pradesh, the police said.

Awanish K Awasthi, additional chief secretary of the Uttar Pradesh home department, on Monday said that 108 PFI members have been arrested in the last 4 days. Awasthi added that these are in addition to the 25 who were arrested earlier.

During a press conference on Monday, Awanish Awasthi said that the arrested PFI members include state president and treasurer.

"PFI is active in districts like Sambhal, Muzaffarnagar, Lucknow, Shamli among several others. On December 19 and 20, PFI members were responsible for instigating violence during the anti-CAA protest," Awanish Awasthi said.

Awasthi also said that the state is investigating about PFI's funding and is in touch with the Enforcement Directorate along with other central agencies.

In December 2019, the Uttar Pradesh Police had sought a ban on the PFI after its complicity was suspected in the statewide violent protests against the amended citizenship law.

The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier written to the Union home ministry, seeking a ban on the PFI after its UP head, Wasim, and 16 other activists were arrested for allegedly masterminding the violence in Lucknow during anti-CAA protests.