Following the alert from central intelligence agencies that the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was planning major terror attacks in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other tourist spots, the investigation agencies have confirmed that SIMI leaders had a “strong network” with terrorist organisations operating from Pakistan and Bangladesh.

According to official sources here on Tuesday, SIMI activists in different states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh and its leaders were maintaining “relations” with the terrorist organisations.

“India-born terrorists, who were working with the terrorist organisations in Pakistan and Bangladesh, were supporting SIMI to trigger blasts in their respective states,” the sources said. The sources further said their investigations had revealed that the terrorist organisations were seeking support from SIMI to incite violence.
In many blasts, in the last three years, in the country, the terrorists had contacted some SIMI activists and its sympathisers for their support, the sources said.

“The recent confessional statement made by Raziuddin Nasir, who was arrested in Karnataka and brought to Hyderabad in connection with the August 25 blasts case, said he sought help of Moutasim Billa, a SIMI activist, proved the SIMI’s link with terrorists,” the sources said.

Nasir, a Hyderabadi youth, underwent terrorist training in Pakistan, they added. “Billa, also a city youth, was arrested recently and revealed in the interrogation that he introduced Adnan, leader of the outlawed SIMI in Karnataka, to Nasir. These clues clearly indicated that SIMI was in touch with the terrorists operating from Pakistan and Bangladesh,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, City Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao said a four-member team would leave for Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday evening to question Kamruddin, chief of the SIMI operations in Andhra Pradesh, who was arrested on March 28.