Centre extends ban on SIMI for two years

New Delhi, Feb 8: 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