When a specially constituted tribunal of the Delhi High Court lifted the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India, it was considered to be a slap on the face of the Union government and investigation agencies, who held the organisation responsible for every recent terror strike in the country.
However the Union Government was quickly into damage control exercise mode and moved the Supreme Court immediately challenging the verdict. The Supreme Court has stayed the ban and has posted the matter for further arguments.
The Union government has prepared an affidavit in which it lists out all the subversive activities undertaken by SIMI.
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The ministry of home affairs in its affidavit before the Supreme Court states that SIMI activists were actively involved in circulation of CDs and tapes containing provocative material, campaigns were launched for fund raising and members of the Muslim community were constantly being instigated to create communal disharmony in the country.
The affidavit points to one incident in which SIMI activists had resorted to pelting stones during a procession at Narasinghgarh in April 2007. The affidavit also blames SIMI for organizing people against the Jabalpur police in August 2006 in order to protest an alleged to the Quran.
Apart from this, SIMI has also been accused of raising funds for subversive activities from across the country. It is stated that they exploit opportunities such as festivals in order to collect funds.
The government also blames SIMI for circulating jihadi literature in the form of tapes and CDs which contain provocative speeches by several leaders of the group.
One of the main allegations against SIMI is the countrywide campaign that it undertook to mobilise support for Islamic rule in India. SIMI had in 1996 launched the campaign and had extended support to militants in both Punjab and Kashmir, the affidavit also states.
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The MHA also states that SIMI operates under the shield of 46 different organisations in the country. The Union government says that these 46 outfits carry out jobs for the SIMI such as circulation of inflammatory material and also collection of funds.
Cases against SIMI:
The government points out that there are 409 cases filed against SIMI in various parts of the country. The cases have been filed under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and also the evidence act.
The government further states that there have been instances where SIMI has supported militancy in Kashmir and also has links with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front. The affidavit lists out intelligence inputs which have stated that SIMI continued with such activities even after its ban. Despite being banned SIMI continued with clandestine activities and managed to keep its country wide network alive, the affidavit also states.
The government speaks about the strong network that SIMI had built up in Kerala where various workshops were organised. There were also directions to SIMI activities to work along with some NGOs in Kerala in order to build up their network.
Further the government lists out the meetings that were held by SIMI activists in Murshidabad in West Bengal in 2004 where it was decided to revamp the outfit. During these meetings the activists or the ansars were urged to tour the country and identify youth who could take over operations at the state level. The ansars were also urged to organise lectures and brainwash the new recruits. The ansars were instructed to be careful during the recruiting process and ensure that none of the recruits had any relative who worked with the security forces.
State-wide statistics:
The affidavit states that in Kerala 17 cases have been registered against SIMI activists out of eight are pending trial. 32 persons have been arrested when SIMI activists were attending a class on the sufferings of the Kashmiri Muslims and the alleged atrocities on them by the government.
In Karnataka four cases have been registered and eight persons were arrested while in Tamil Nadu, 15 cases have been registered and 26 persons have been arrested.
In Andhra Pradesh the police have registered 14 cases and 15 accused have been picked up. The affidavit states that arrest of Moulana Nasiruddin in connection with the Haren Pandya murder case has not been taken too well and SIMI cadres are planning to avenge this.
Maharashtra has seen 185 cases being registered against SIMI cadres and the number of persons picked up is 881. The affidavit claims that 54 persons are still absconding. In Gujarat, 12 cases have been registered and 182 persons arrested. All cases are pending trial.
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have registered 14 and 40 cases against SIMI activists respectively. In Rajasthan, 22 persons have been arrested. In West Bengal, 58 SIMI activists have been arrested and 10 cases have been registered while in Madhya Pradesh the number of activists arrested in 175 and 74 cases have been registered.
