After attaining the custody of Safdar Nagori, one of the top commanders of Student’s Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Delhi police special cell and other investigating agencies are trying hard to extract details about the alleged rebirth of SIMI and its partnership with Indian Mujahideen (IM). Fears have arisen due to possible terror strikes in the future.
According to sources, SIMI and IM are teaming up to execute a full fledged terror attack during the current Lok Sabha political campaign. ‘SIMI is activating its sleeper cells, present in almost all parts of the country to make a big comeback. Both IM and SIMI have around 30 sleeper cells across the country,’ a source in one of the investigation agencies told Millennium Post.
Disclosures made by the recently captured IM operatives including Yasin Bhatkal, co-founder of IM, has backed the claim that both banned terror outfit are working on a joint operation. ‘Both terror outfits have the same ideology of JIHAD and Maal-e-Ganimat. It was obvious that at some point, both SIMI and IM would have to regroup. Apart from sharing the same ideology, both groups use similar modules and modus operandi,’ the source added.
If sources are to be believed, SIMI was also active in earlier attacks, including Hyderabad blasts in February 2013, Bangalore blast (April 2013), Bodh Gaya bombing (July 2013) and Patna rally serial blasts (October 2013).
‘SIMI is allegedly planning big political attacks. Huge amounts of ammunition has already been collected to execute fidayeen-style attacks and assassinate a top politician,’ the official further added. A senior police official in Delhi police department, on condition of anonymity, added, ‘SIMI operatives have been procuring a big arms deal. Tehsin Akhtar, IM commander, revealed that SIMI operatives were sourcing their weapons from several illegal arms and ammunitions factories running in various parts of the country.’
Quoting confessions made by Tehsin, the source added that due to the availability of factories in India, the arms were not sourced from abroad. Whenever there is a requirement, local dealers would smuggle weapons. Thus the trail would never lead back to SIMI.
Nagori who was lodged at Sabarmati Jail for the last five years is now under the police custody of special cell for his alleged connection to the 2008 bombing in Delhi. ‘A joint-interrogation of Nagori and arrested IM operatives is likely to take place to establish the links between SIMI and IM,’ a source in special cell said.