The unlawful Activities (Prevention) tribunal today organized a sitting in Hyderabad, in connection with the extension of ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). On first day of sitting ten police officers (witnesses) that were associated with the investigation of terror related cases were subjected to cross-examination by the SIMI’s counsel.
The counsel for Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) Advocate Ashok Agarwal contended before the tribunal that the Andhra Pradesh Police has maliciously implicated SIMI organization in many cases. Though there is no evidence to show that the members of SIMI are involved in terror cases, the police have named the organization in the case of Viqar Ahmed.
The advocate during the cross examination of V Satyanarayana Additional Superintendent of Police (former DSP Octopus) claimed that the police in its charge sheet has never mentioned that terror suspect Viqar Ahmed was a member of banned SIMI. He alleged that the police have maliciously dragged the SIMI’s name in the case and gave evidence before the tribunal.
The Advocate also contended that in the case of arrest of Baleeghuddin Jaber (the son of Moulana Naseeruddin) the police claiming associated with Darsgah-E-Jihad-O Shahadat and Tehreek Tahafuz Shuyar E Islam that are not banned outfits but at the same time he has been labeled as SIMI activist. The Madhya Pradesh police have arrested Jaber and he is in Indore jail.
On the first day of sitting ten witnesses who came to give evidence in the form of affidavits against the SIMI were cross-examined. Those were subjected to cross examination are M Nageswar Rao DSP, VNV Satyanarayana, Addl SP, K R Nagaraju ACP SIT, K.Babu Rao Addl SP, Guru.Raghavendra Inspector Abids, G Girish Rao Inspector, D Jagdishwar Rao Sub-Inspector, B Bhasakar Inspector, K Venkateshwar Rao Inspector and Inspector General (Intelligence) V C Sajjanar.
While the cross examination of the witnesses (Police officers) was in progress the Superintendent of Police Counter Intelligence P.Sumathi created a flutter by raising objection over the presence of journalists in the tribunal sitting. The tribunal’s presiding judge of Delhi High court Justice V K Sahli enquired with the journalists over their presence, few journalists justified their presence saying that the Tribunal has issued a Public notice for the general public. However the judge over ruled the objection of SP Sumathi and allowed the journalists to carry on with their work.
The Unlawful activities tribunal has organized two day sitting on 14 and 15 July at Ranga Reddy Collector office, Lakdikapool in order to collect evidence. The tribunal was constituted by the Central Government in connection with the extension of ban on SIMI. The Union Government in 2001 has banned SIMI due its alleged indulgence terror activities.
–Bureau Report