New Delhi: The Centre has extended by two more
years the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India
(SIMI), which has links with Pakistan-based terrorist outfits
including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its front, Indian
Mujahideen.
The Home Ministry has issued a notification in this regard
after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the proposal of
extending ban on SIMI.
The ban would come into effect from this month end for a
period of two years, government sources said.
SIMI was declared outlawed in 2001 when it came to light
that the outfit was involved in a series of terrorist
activities.
The group was continuously having close contacts with LeT
and carrying out several terror strikes along with Indian
Mujahideen.
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 relief.
Last month, the Home Ministry had issued an advisory to
Delhi and Rajasthan Police, saying controversial author Salman
Rushdie may be targeted by SIMI activists if he attended the
Jaipur Literary Festival.
PTI
