SIMI activists were in touch with terror groups: Govt

Karnataka Govt in its affidavit submitted to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has contended that some of the SIMI members had been in contact with militant outfits.

Supporting continuation of the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India, the Karnataka government in its affidavit submitted to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has contended that some of the SIMI members had been in contact with militant outfits.

The state intelligence has quoted the Hubli-Honnali cases to support their contention that the banned outfit had been in touch with some of the militant organisations that were unleashing terror in the country.

In the Honnali case, two persons had been arrested on charges of stealing vehicles. The affidavit stated that a SIMI activist was nabbed along with Naseer Raizauddin alias Mohammed Ghouse, alleged to be a Pakistan trained militant, who had been holding meetings with members of SIMI with the agenda of carrying out terror strikes in the country.

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In Hubli, the police had raided places believed to be a training ground for terrorist activities. Police had also recovered explosives from parts of the state.

Those arrested in the Hubli case included members of the banned outfit which supported the contention that the organisation was involved with terror outfits, it added.

While supporting the continuation of the ban, the affidavit contended that those arrested in connection with terror plots in Karnataka had links with SIMI.

The affidavit was submitted to the Tribunal, set up by the Centre, which concluded its two-day sitting here yesterday. The Tribunal was in the state to review the ban on SIMI.