Centre extends ban on SIMI for two more years - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Union Home Ministry on Friday extended the ban on the Student's Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for a further period of two years. According to Home Ministry sources, the decision was taken after a thorough observation of all its activities. There are still reports of the SIMI movement in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi, sources said. The ban on SIMI was to expire on February 7 (Sunday). The government is extending the ban on SIMI for the fifth time. The SIMI an Islamist fundamentalist organization, which advocates the 'liberation of India' by converting it to an Islamic land, was proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2002. In August 2008, a special tribunal lifted the ban on SIMI. The ban was subsequently reinstated by the Supreme Court on August 6, 2008. SIMI has been charged of carrying out bomb blasts across India including 2006 Mumbai serial train bomb blast. It was also charged for 2008 Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Delhi bombings. SIMI cadres were reportedly undergone training with the Hijbul Mujahiddin (HM) cadres and they are also involved in a continuous recruitment drive for the HuJI. SIMI was even labeled as a terrorist organization by the United States.