Centre to seek extension of ban on SIMI

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) The Union Government will tomorrow seek extension of ban against Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) till the final disposal of the appeal of the Centre against the Delhi High Court order.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam will hear tomorrow the petition of the Centre against the order of Justice Geeta Mittal of the Delhi High Court who had on August 5 found the evidence produced by the Centre too weak to justify the Union Government notification dated February 8, 2008 extending ban on SIMI for another two years for its involvement in terrorist and anti-national activities.

The SIMI had been banned under Unlawful Activities(prevention) Act.

The Centre in its fresh affidavit has also produced evidence against SIMI showing its involvement in July 26 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts.

Gujarat, Pune and Rajasthan police have arrested over a dozen SIMI activists for their alleged involvement in terrorist activities.

According to the Centre, around 1900 SIMI activists are in various jails in 89 terrorist cases.

Gujarat police DGP P C Pande had revealed in a press conference on August 16 that the organisation was now operating under a new name of Indian Mujahideen.

The Supreme Court had stayed the operation of order of the special tribunal, headed by Justice Geeta Mittal for three weeks on August 6, when Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam mentioned the matter before the apex court for interim stay contending that there was sufficient evidence showing the links of SIMI with national and international outfits and even with Al-Qaeda.

According to the Centre, the Delhi High Court had overlooked the inputs of the top intelligence agencies of the country.

SIMI was banned for the first time in 2001.

UNI SC KK RP CS1602