The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tuesday claimed that it has arrested three activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) from Sendhwa district.
While talking to mediapersons, Director General of Police (DGP) Nandan Dubey said, "SIMI activist Abu Faisal who fled from a Khandwa prison two-and-half month ago along with his five friends was among those arrested." Faisal was arrested along with two accomplices, Ujjain-resident Irfan Nagori and Maharashtra's Sholapur-native Khalid Ahmed, following an encounter after midnight with a team led by Inspector General (ATS) Sanjeev Shami.
Nagori and Ahmed are also associated with SIMI but their profile would be clear after interrogation. Three pistols, cartridges and Rs 1.35 lakh were seized from the arrested. Abu Faizal had been involved in a number of terrorist activities since 2007, he said. Faisal was wanted in connection with a number of terrorist activities including Ahmedabad blasts. A reward of Rs 1 lakh each was announced on information leading to the arrest of Faisal and five other SIMI men who escaped from Khandwa prison.
later, to ascertain the identity, Inspector General of Police, Indore range, Vipin Maheshwari had reached early in the morning. He also took stock of the situation. The police officials are patting their back for arresting the elusive SIMI activist that had fled from jail, but factually, it was a major security lapse. No senior officer's responsibility was fixed for this laxity. Moreover, three SIMI activists who had fled along with Abu are still out of police reach.