By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal : The underground leaders and activists of banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India, (SIMI), are on the run in the towns of central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh as they are being hunted again by the state police.
The reason for this fresh drive is that the Anti-Terrorist Squad, (ATS), Mumbai, has reportedly sought an updated report on former national general secretary of SIMI, Safdar Nagori and five others in connection with a terrorist activity in Nagpada area. The letter (No. 32-/3-I/2007) was faxed to Superintendent of Police’s of Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur area.
According to a police officer ATS wants Safdar Nagori, Kamruddin Nagori, Akbar Baig alias Amja, Iqrar Sheikh, Illyas and Ajaaz.
Reports reaching here said that the ATS letter became a matter of concern for the police in Ujjain, Indore because Ehthesam Siddiqui, an ex-SIMI man held in the serial blasts cases, during interrogation had revealed of about their plans of starting training camps (terrorist) in the dense forests of Madhya Pradesh. Siddiqui had also reportedly told his interrogators that he and his fellow activists had discussed these points during a meeting held at a place 13 km from Ujjain in July before the blasts. Among those present at the meeting were Safdar Nagori and Kamruddin Nagori, said sources.
The intelligence officials have got fresh clues that Safdar Nagori was reviving SIMI cadre under the umbrella of a different outfit with major recruitments being made from the Malwa region of the state.
It may be mentioned here that on the ‘most-wanted list’ with a cash award of Rs. 5,000, Safdar Nagori has always managed to hoodwink the police and Central agencies ever since the organisation was banned. Born to a police inspector on April 1969, Safdar Nagori, the fire-band general secretary of SIMI has already crossed his age limits to continue with his
post in this organisation as per the rules decided by organisation in 1977. Nagori started his operation between Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh after parting with ex-SIMI president Bashir Badr.
“They parted after ideological differences over appointing the new office-bearers in SIMI”, say intelligence agencies. They still praise Osama bin Laden as the ideal mujahid, they added.
Central intelligence agencies claim that Nagori had made a couple of visits in and around Ujjain and Khandwa in the past few months. “Nagori is not concerned with SIMI anymore. He had crossed the age of 30 years which automatically disentitled him to continue as a member of SIMI, as this organisation had an age limit of 30 years for membership”, said an officer.
Like Nagori, other five activists being screened by ATS have also crossed their age to continue with this banned outfit.