Centre to extend ban on SIMI
Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 3, 2012, 04.42AM IST
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday decided to continue the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for its alleged links with certain Pakistan-based terrorist outfits including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its front, Indian Mujahideen.
The decision to continue the ban, first imposed in September 2001, was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"The home ministry will now soon notify the extension of the ban which was supposed to have expired this month," said an official.
SIMI was initially banned for two years after various intelligence reports showed its cadres were joining LeT and the outfit was providing logistical support in setting up 'sleeper cells' in the hinterland. Some of its members had also received training from Lashkar in Gulf countries and Pakistan before joining the Indian Mujahideen here.
Though SIMI had challenged the government's move in various courts and also before the Special Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act tribunals on a number of occasions, it did not get any reprieve.
"It can again challenge the latest decision before the tribunal after the home ministry notifies the ban. The tribunal has the power to turn down the government's decision if it is not convinced of the evidence presented by the ministry," the official said.
The outfit recently came under the spotlight when Union home ministry in January issued a 'security advisory' to Delhi and Rajasthan Police, stating that author Salman Rushdie was under grave threat from the banned group SIMI.
The ministry's advisory had come just two days before the controversial author was supposed to come to India to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival from January 20 to 24. Rushdie subsequently cancelled his visit on security grounds.
The one-page advisory had stated that SIMI's whose former general secretary Saquib Nachan was "exploring the possibility of targeting Rushdie during his proposed visit".
Nachan, a key accused in the 2003 Mulund train blast case of Mumbai, is currently out of jail after being given bail by special POTA court in January last year. Nachan is considered a link between SIMI and LeT................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JSC8yMDEyLzAyLzAzI0FyMDExMDU=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Vishwa Mohan |TNN | Feb 3, 2012, 04.42AM IST
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday decided to continue the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for its alleged links with certain Pakistan-based terrorist outfits including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its front, Indian Mujahideen.
The decision to continue the ban, first imposed in September 2001, was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"The home ministry will now soon notify the extension of the ban which was supposed to have expired this month," said an official.
SIMI was initially banned for two years after various intelligence reports showed its cadres were joining LeT and the outfit was providing logistical support in setting up 'sleeper cells' in the hinterland. Some of its members had also received training from Lashkar in Gulf countries and Pakistan before joining the Indian Mujahideen here.
Though SIMI had challenged the government's move in various courts and also before the Special Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act tribunals on a number of occasions, it did not get any reprieve.
"It can again challenge the latest decision before the tribunal after the home ministry notifies the ban. The tribunal has the power to turn down the government's decision if it is not convinced of the evidence presented by the ministry," the official said.
The outfit recently came under the spotlight when Union home ministry in January issued a 'security advisory' to Delhi and Rajasthan Police, stating that author Salman Rushdie was under grave threat from the banned group SIMI.
The ministry's advisory had come just two days before the controversial author was supposed to come to India to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival from January 20 to 24. Rushdie subsequently cancelled his visit on security grounds.
The one-page advisory had stated that SIMI's whose former general secretary Saquib Nachan was "exploring the possibility of targeting Rushdie during his proposed visit".
Nachan, a key accused in the 2003 Mulund train blast case of Mumbai, is currently out of jail after being given bail by special POTA court in January last year. Nachan is considered a link between SIMI and LeT................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JSC8yMDEyLzAyLzAzI0FyMDExMDU=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
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