Three more SIMI activists nabbed

Bhopal, Apr 02: Madhya Pradesh Police on Wednesday arrested three more activists of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) taking the total of arrested activists to 24. Superintendent of Police of Indore Anshuman Singh Yadav told media persons in Indore, that the arrested have been identified as Amaan, Zakir Lala and Irfan Chhipa.

The accused belong to Nihalpura and Juna Risala areas of Indore and were arrested by police from different areas. While Amaan was engaged in training SIMI activists, Zakir had been the local chief of the banned outfit and Chhipa was held for helping SIMI and carrying out other illegal activities. Cases have also filed against them for their involvement in illegal activities and for helping anti- national elements. Yadav further said that during the interrogation, all confessed to have been working to strengthen the organisation at the behest of top SIMI leaders.

The police had been searching for SIMI activists for quite some time. This arrest was made on the lead provided by SIMI leaders recently arrested. Previously, the All India General Secretary of SIMI, Safdar Nagori, was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Madhya Pradesh police along with twelve other leaders of the banned organization on March 27. After three days, seven SIMI activists were arrested on charges of providing assistance to their former chief and 12 members of the banned student organisation. On Tuesday, one more SIMI activist was arrested. The crackdown against SIMI comes just a week after Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal told the Lok Sabha that the banned outfit and its associates were planning serial blasts in the country and the Centre has extended its ban imposed on SIMI for another two years.