One more terror suspect held in Karnataka

Another activist of banned SIMI, Syed Sameer, has been picked up by Karnataka police after keeping him under surveillance.

Another activist of banned Students Islamic Movement of India, Syed Sameer, has been picked up by Karnataka police after keeping him under surveillance for a long time, a Corps of Detectives (CoD) official said.

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"We have been keeping track of Sameer's activities," the official told PTI today after the dealer in aluminium and scrap business was picked up yesterday from his residence at Gurappanapalya here.

The CoD had been on the look out for Sameer following interrogations of Yahya Kammakutty, suspected to be his close associate, who was arrested recently.

Sameer has been an "active SIMI activist" and his activities had come under a shadow of doubt, which had prompted the police to monitor his activities, he said.

On why the city police had not held him earlier, he said, "At that time it was not required". The police was keeping a close watch and has held him now when there were strong reasons to suspect his involvement and possible links with some terror network, he said.

The COD had been on the lookout for Sameer following interrogations of Yahya, suspected to be his close ally.

Sameer was a nodal member of SIMI in the city and was among the prominent organisers of the group's activities.

Several suspected SIMI activists, including those with professional degrees, had been arrested recently by the Karnataka police.