Govt extends ban on SIMI by two years

The Centre today extended the ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the fifth since 2001, by two years from February seven, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The Centre today extended the ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the fifth since 2001, by two years from February seven, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

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Home Ministry officials said the decision was taken as security agencies have found evidence of SIMI planning and executing terror strikes in the country.

SIMI was declared outlawed for the first time in September 2001 for its involvement in terrorist acts and the ban was extended in 2003 and 2006.

The last ban on SIMI, formed in April 1977 as a youth wing of terror outfit Jamaat Islami-e-Hind, for two years was extended on February 8, 2008.

In its notification, the Home Ministry had declared SIMI as "unlawful association indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the country" and with "potential of disturbing peace and communal harmony and disrupting the secular fabric of the country".

The group is alleged to have close links with Pakistan- based terror outfits, particularly Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish- e-Mohammad.