Police arrest 7 SIMI activists from Malwa

Bhopal, Mar 31: Continuing its ongoing drive against the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Madhya Pradesh police once again struck at several hideouts of this banned outfit and arrested seven SIMI activists from Indore and Ujjain.

Just three days ago, the police reacting on information from Information Bureau (IB) had arrested 13 hardcore SIMI leaders including its National General Secretary Safdar Nagori from Indore and nearby Pithampur (Dhar district). Police sources claimed that these seven activists have been arrested on charges of providing assistance to their former chief Safdar Nagori and 12 others. The arrested are Jabil Parvez (brother of Aamil Parvez who was held earlier), Aiyaz, Akbar, Irshad and Mehruddin, DIG Indore Madhu Babu said.

IG Anil Kumar, however said, “We are investigating to know their plans.” The police produced these seven activists in a district court and they were sent on police remand till April 7. Meanwhile, official sources claimed that the SIMI leaders were planning to eliminate top BJP leaders including the Leader of Opposition L K Advani and Gujrat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and BJS president Uma Bharti who were involved in demolition of Babri mosque of Ayodhya and post-Godhra riots. Indore Superintendent of Police Anshuman Yadav claimed that the SIMI leaders were planning to disrupt peace, law and order by trying to eliminate some top rung politicians.

The radical outfit was proscribed in 2001 and Nagori had been missing since then. It is often accused of links with terror outfits and involvement in anti-national activities, charges denied by the organisation set up in 1977. The Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh had always been a centre of SIMI activities as several leaders hailed from Indore, Ujjain, Dewas and Dhar districts. The police were active for few months only to nab SIMI activists throughout the country, but later forgot almost all the activists who were active in with fake names. Police sources claimed that on the basis of statements of SIMI leaders, police would raid several other places in different districts of Malwa region in coming days.