Author: Subodh Ghildiyal, Pradeep Thakur &
Vishwa Mohan
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 15, 2006
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1754435.cms
Banned for over five years for its anti-national
character and now under the scanner for its role in the Mumbai blasts, the
Students' Islamic Movement of India has begun to ward off proscription by
changing identities.
Significantly, SIMI has also sought to kill
its pan-Indian character at the superficial level by assuming different names
in different states.
What is baffling the intelligence establishment
is that it is also changing banners from district to district in its "stronghold
state" to keep law enforcing agencies at bay.
The Union home ministry slapped a ban on SIMI
in 2001 after it was found provoking Muslim youth towards armed struggle.
While the organisation ceased to exist formally,
it took the route adopted by other terrorist outfits and began operating under
new names.
By cocking a snook at the security establishment,
and little aid from state governments, SIMI has managed to grow nationwide.
Central intelligence agencies are worried
at the states' reluctance to crack down on SIMI despite the security threat
it poses.
UP has pleaded the case of the organisation,
with reports that it is even mulling withdrawal of the case against its key
office-bearer who recently came overground after absconding for many years.
Sources revealed that SIMI is organised and
functioning under new banners. In UP, it has even acquired new names in different
districts, even in a region like western UP, where it has a strong presence.
Officials say they are working according to
the original membership of SIMI and are, thus, seeking to end SIMI operations
even under new banners.
However, members who embraced SIMI offshoots
after the ban would still remain out of the legal ambit and short-circuit
the attempt to nip the banned outfit in the bud.
Intelligence sources pointed out that linkages
of former SIMI activists have been found with organisations like National
Democratic Front of Kerala, a non-political outfit; Tehrik-e-Ahiya and Nehjatul
Ulma in Maharashtra, and a few political outfits in southern and north-eastern
states.
