NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: Even as the role of the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) is being probed in the recent serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, the Delhi High Court has told the Center it has to produce fresh evidence of the outfit’s link to “bomb blasts, riots and destructive activities” to extend its ban.
A Special Tribunal of the court on Monday asked the central government if it had any “fresh material” to “connect” the organization to “bomb blasts, riots, destructive activities.”
“You say that SIMI is connected to bomb blasts, riots, destructive activities. Place specific material before me, you (center) cannot presume their involvement,” said Justice Gita Mittal, the presiding officer of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Tribunal.
The tribunal was specially constituted to adjudicate on the question of whether or not there was sufficient cause for declaring SIMI an unlawful association.
It was hearing a challenge from SIMI against a Feb. 7, 2008, notification from the Home Ministry, declaring it an “unlawful association indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the country.”
The organization is facing its fourth ban under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Justice Mittal asked why specific reasons or activities were not set out in the February 2008 notification. “It is the right of a person to know by what activities he is being banned,” observed the court.
Mere mention for an “immediate curb or control” over SIMI in the notification is not enough, it added, “Reasons have to be stated.”
Both SIMI and the center have been asked by the tribunal to file detailed written submissions in the case.
The tribunal has to file its report in the Home Ministry on the legality of the notification by Aug. 6, 2008. Counsel for SIMI Mobin Akhtar argued, “The Center each time improves on its own previous orders for a ban.”
Meanwhile, police defused another explosive device yesterday in western India, bringing the total number of unexploded bombs found there in the last two days to 19. The discovery of the bombs in Surat on Tuesday and yesterday came after 22 explosions tore through the city of Ahmedabad over the weekend, killing 42 people and wounding 183.
Seven small blasts also shook Bangalore in the south, killing one person. Authorities initially reported two deaths there but later said the second death was not related to the attack.
Surat Police Commissioner R.M.S. Brar said the 19th bomb was discovered yesterday in one of the city’s busy markets, and police were telling people to avoid gathering in public places.
