The four SIMI activists who were arrested at Rourkela during a joint operation with Telangana police had local contacts who arranged houses for them on rent and facilitated their stay in Odisha, according to preliminary probe by the state police.
The four SIMI activists and mother of one of them, who was also held, meanwhile, refused to take legal aid to fight for them in the court of law, as the Special Task Force under Crime Branch of Odisha Police on Thursday began interrogation of the operatives. An eight-member STF team led by Crime Branch IG Arun Kumar Bothra arrived at Rourkela after the local police took the five persons on a seven-day remand. The STF also moved the local court seeking 30 days remand for the five people as they were involved in a series of crimes in multiple States. “Our people have started interrogation of the five persons at Rourkela. We will like to ascertain their activities in the state and their associates who helped them stay in the state as well as arrange fake documents,” said Crime Branch Special DG BK Sharma.
Preliminary investigation have so far shown that the operatives of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) had local contacts who arranged houses for them on rent and facilitated their stay in the State, Sharma said. Besides Rourkela, they had also taken shelter in Bhadrak district for some time.
“We would also like to ascertain which crime they were involved in and what were their plans. Police from States like Telangana, MP, TN, Maharastra and UP are likely to interrogate the five pople,” Sharma said.