SIMI activists in police remand

Indore, Mar 28 (UNI) All 13 activists of banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), who were arrested yesterday, were today remanded to police custody till April 11.

The SIMI activists were produced before Dhar's Chief Judicial Magistrate S S Thakur, who conceded the government counsel's plea for custody for interrogation.

Tight security arrangements were in place at the court premises.

Few workers of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha staged demonstration while the activists were being brought to the court, but they dispersed soon on police advice.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Anil Kumar said interrogation of the arrested was in progress. Police teams from other states and Intelligence Bureau also joined in the interrogation as SIMI activists were wanted in connection with several violent incidents in the country.

The SIMI activists, including its five top office-bearers, were arrested from a flat here yesterday, while a case of treason was registered against them at a police station at Pithampur in neighbouring Dhar district.

SIMI's former General Secretary Safdar Nagouri and its southern India chief Shibli were among those arrested. Seven pistols were recovered from them.

UNI XC-SP VD DS1503