SIMI leader arrested

Ujjain, Feb 2 (UNI) Banned Students Islamic Movement of India's Madhya Pradesh unit Secretary Mohammad Ikrar Sheikh, who was absconding for over six years, was arrested here yesterday, police said.

Police said Sheikh was among 13 accused of pasting objectionable posters in Mahakal police station area here in 2000 and the charge-sheet in this regard had been filed in the court in October last year with seven accused declared absconding. Six accused had already been released on bail.

On a tip-off, Sheikh was detained here on Wednesay last while coming out of Lal mosque after noon prayers and he was formally arrested yesterday. His remand will be sought for further interrogation, police said, Police said after SIMI was banned, Sheikh continued to work underground taking shelter in few towns in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Meanwhile, a delegation, led by Kazi Hafiz Mohammad Hanif Khan, met the Superintendent of Police yesterday taking exception to Sheikh's detention while coming out of a religious place after prayers. ''We are eager to maintain amity, but members of the community are agitated over arrest of a faithful at a religious place'', he said.

UNI