A total of 16 SIMI (Student Islamic Movement of India) operatives were arrested in the past one year in Chhattisgarh, state Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra said in the Assembly today.
In a written reply tabled on the floor of the House to a query from Congress member Umesh Patel, the minister said, "Sixteen members of banned SIMI outfit were arrested in 2013-14 (till January 20) in Chhattisgarh."
As per the reply, all members of the banned outfit were nabbed from the capital Raipur and were booked under provisions of Unlawful Activities Act, Arms Act, Explosives Substances Act.
Those arrested were identified as - Umer Siddhiqui (35), Abdul Wahid (55), Abdul Aziz (45), Moinuddin (37), Azizullah (38), Roshan alias Javed (32), Hayat Khan (45), Sheikh Habibullah (33), Md Dawood (40), Mohammed Aslam (38), Sheikh Subhan Ushman (50), Ajharuddin Kureshi (19), Mohammed Syed (54), Ammar Bin Wahid (19), Salim (43) and Sher Ali (20).
The arrested were sent to judicial remand by a court in Raipur and the case is under investigation, the reply said.
However, National Investigation Agency (NIA) later got the remand of Umer Siddhiqui and Abdul Wahi in connection with Bodhgaya blasts and Patna blasts in Bihar, it said.
