HUBBALLI: Three members of the banned Student Islamic Movement India (SIMI), who had been hiding in a house in Dharwad, could be among those who were shot dead in an encounter on the outskirts of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.
The twin city police said there are no evidences at the moment to confirm whether the deceased were the same trio who had lived in Dharwad for 5-6 months.
“At this moment, we cannot confirm. Some reports said that Zakir Husain, one of the deceased, could be the person who was living as ‘Kishan’ in Dharwad.
It’s said that Dharwad was chosen as a hiding place by the trio possibly after they escaped from Khandwa jail in Madhya Pradesh. All the three accused had escaped before the investigating agencies could raid them in Dharwad,” said a senior police officer.
Three SIMI members had staying at one S R Kulkarni’s house in Tejasvi Nagar in Dharwad identifying themselves as Arvind, Anand and Kishan and paid `2,000 rent a month.
When Anti-Terror Squad officers reached Kulkarni’s house, the trio had escaped leaving behind a SIM card which had been purchased in the name of the house owner. The owner had not suspected the trio.