Author:
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: April 13, 2008
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/apr/13simi.htm
Safdar Nagori, the general secretary of the proscribed outfit Student's Islamic
Movement of India, was in Mumbai on July 11, 2006, when a series of explosions
in suburban trains claimed 187 lives and injured thousands.
"He was in the city between July 7 and
12. But it is not clear as to where he was and what he was doing," said
a senior officer from the Anti-Terrorism Squad.
Nagori is said to be acquainted with serial
train blasts case accused and SIMI's Maharashtra unit general secretary Ehtesham
Siddiqui. He is also wanted in a case filed in Mumbai under the Unlawful Activities
Prevention Act, in which Siddiqui was first arrested.
However, investigators have not been able
to establish any link between Nagori and the serial blasts. The ATS will demand
that Nagori's custody be handed over to it for further investigations. He
was arrested by the Madhya Pradesh police last month.
During interrogation by the Maharashtra ATS
officers in Madhya Pradesh, Nagori has said he had traveled to Mumbai after
the conclusion of a three-day meeting of the SIMI in Ujjain on July 6, 2006.
"Nagori was in the city till July 12,
after which he is said to have embarked on a tour to some other destination.
Such men do not break easily (in interrogation) and we will have to ascertain
his movements in the city through his mobile phone records," the officer
said.
Top SIMI leaders had met in the jungles near
Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh to discuss organisational matters between July 3
and 6, 2006.
The ATS is also 'surprised' by a letter allegedly
written by Siddiqui, while in custody in connection with the serial blasts
case, to Nagori. The letter was recovered from Nagori's hideout in Madhya
Pradesh, the officer said.
"In the letter, Siddiqui writes that
he has not divulged any details regarding the July 11 serial blasts conspiracy
to the interrogators in spite of every effort made by them," the officer
said.
It is possible that the letter was not sent
through the jail authorities fearing a scrutiny. Siddiqui may have sent the
letter through an advocate or some relative who would have come to meet him
in jail, he said.
"We will confront both of them (Siddiqui
and Nagori) and ask them about the letter. After the discovery of the letter,
the Madhya Pradesh police may also be interested in taking Siddiqui's custody.
Otherwise, we will apply for Nagori's custody," said the officer.
Nagori and other SIMI activists are in the
MP police's custody till April 18 and police forces from over five states
have shown interest in taking their custody.
Nagori was arrested along with 12 other activists
of the banned SIMI while they had come for a meeting near Indore on March
26 this year. This has led to the arrest of over 50 alleged members of the
outfit, including two from the outskirts of Mumbai.