Police maintaining close vigil on SIMI workers

Ujjain, MP, July 13 (UNI) Police are maintaining a close vigil on Students Islamic Movement of India's (SIMI) two dozen workers, including their chief Safdar Nagauri, in view of Tuesday's Mumbai blasts, which claimed 186 lives.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ujjain) Ajay Kumar Sharma said before the Centre banned the SIMI, the organisation had its headquarters in this religious town.

Forty-year-old Ujjain-resident Nagauri, who was SIMI national general secretary when the ban was imposed, is son of retired Assistant Sub-Inspector Zarhul Hasan Nagauri.

City Superintendent of Police Rajesh Mishra said Nagauri was absconding since the ban and as per intelligence reports he was SIMI chief. Two cases -- of spreading religious discord and treachery -- were registered against him in 1997-98 here.

Nagauri's close associate Aamil Pervez was lodged at Bhairavgarh central jail under the National Security Act. Similar cases against were registered against him in Howrah, Indore and Ujjain.

Mr Mishra said many people were closely associated with the SIMI but a close watch was being kept on about two dozen active members.

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