New Delhi, February 2: The Central government declared the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as an 'unlawful association' and extended its ban for five more years as it continues to indulge in subversive activities. The central government is also of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the SIMI, it is necessary to declare the organisation as an unlawful association with immediate effect. The order comes into effect from Thursday. Reports inform that the Home Ministry listed 58 cases where members belonging to the SIMI were allegedly involved. Indian Mujahideen Terrorist Ariz Khan, Involved in Batla House Encounter, Arrested by Delhi Police's Special Cell. 

SIMI, which was involved in a series of terror acts in the country, was banned under the UPA government on February 1, 2014, for a period of five years. The ban, was, however, confirmed by a tribunal on July 30, 2014. Among the terror acts in which SIMI members were allegedly involved are blasts in Gaya in 2017, Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore in 2014, and jailbreak in Bhopal in 2014.

SIMI was established on April 25, 1977, in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh. The organisation has been allegedly working on the agenda of liberating India by converting it into an Islamic state. It was first declared an outlawed outfit in 2001. Since then, it has been banned on several occasions.

The MHA stated that the organisation has been polluting the minds of the people by creating communal disharmony and have been involving in activities which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country.

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According to a notification by the Home Ministry, if SIMI's unlawful activities are not curbed and controlled immediately, it will continue its subversive activities, re-organise its activists, who are still absconding, and disrupt the secular fabric of the country by propagating anti-national sentiments and escalating secessionism.

"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government hereby declares the SIMI as an 'unlawful association' and directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years," the MHA notification said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 02, 2019 12:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).