NEW DELHI: The Central intelligence agencies on Monday came out with a warning that five terrorists belonging to the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) might carry out terror strikes in Karnataka, Rajasthan and Maharashtra at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI agency.
The five terrorists had broken out from Khandwa prison in Madhya Pradesh on October 1ast and were suspected to be involved in a blast at the Chennai Railway Station in May this year. Sources stressed that highest level alert was issued after Indian agencies intercepted a chat between terrorists and their handlers sitting in Pakistan. Intelligence officials tracking the terrorists footprints said some members of the group could be in hiding in Karnataka.
“The chief of the group was caught last year but it appears that the terrorists on the run still have their connections intact with their handlers based in Pakistan. The high alert was also sent to other states as their footprints have been been spotted in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan,” officials said.
An officer noted that terrorist Mehboob’s mother Najma Bee had disappeared from her Khandwa residence some four-five months back and is now said to be hiding with the terrorists on the run. Mehboob was booked in eight terror cases under the UAPA. The first case was lodged against him in Khandwa Kotwali on April 1, 2008.
“So far no FIR has been filed against Najma Bee but if caught she will be named for aiding and abetting terrorists,” sources added.
Counter-terrorism officials said there are deep concerns about potential threat from SIMI and Pakistan-based handlers are desperate following the NIA crackdown on Indian Mujahideen modules.
They confirmed that one of the terrorists in hiding, Aijajuddin alias Raja, a native of Kareli in Madhya Pradesh was a key IM and SIMI operative.
He was booked in nine cases under terror laws. Aijajuddin came on the radar of anti-terror agencies in 2009 when Khandwa Police registered a case against him under the UAPA.
Officials said the group of five terrorists is suspected to have carried out a bank heist in Karimnagar district of Telangana in February. The terrorist’s footprints were also found in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh when a bomb accidentally went off in September 2014.
Officials suspect that five SIMI terrorists were given shelter in Bijnor for over 2 months.
A manhunt was launched by the anti-terror squad after the accidental blast in Bijnor, suspecting that terrorists may have sneaked into bordering villages of Nepal.