Following the alert from Central intelligence agencies that the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) was planning major terror attacks in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and other tourist spots, the investigation agencies have confirmed that SIMI leaders had a ''strong network'' with terrorist organisations operating from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
According to official sources, SIMI activists in different states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh and its leaders were maintaining ''relations'' with the terrorist organisations.
"India-born terrorists, who were working with the terrorist organisations in Pakistan and Bangladesh, were supporting SIMI to trigger blasts in their respective states,'' sources said.
Sources further said their investigations had revealed that the terrorist organisations were seeking support from SIMI to incite violence.
In many blasts, in the last three years, in the country, the terrorists had contacted some SIMI activists and its sympathisers for their support, the sources said.
''The recent confessional statement made by Raziuddin Nasir, who was arrested in Karnataka and brought to Hyderabad in connection with the August 25 blasts case, said he sought help of Moutasim Billa, a SIMI activist, proved the SIMI's link with terrorists,'' the sources said.
Nasir, a Hyderabadi youth, underwent terrorist training in Pakistan, they added.
''Billa, also a city youth, was arrested recently and revealed in the interrogation that he introduced Adnan, leader of the outlawed SIMI in Karnataka, to Nasir. These clues clearly indicated that SIMI was in touch with the terrorists operating from Pakistan and Bangladesh,'' sources said.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad police commissioner B Prasada Rao said a four-member team would leave for Indore in Madhya Pradesh this evening to question Kamruddin, Chief of the SIMI operations in Andhra Pradesh, who was arrested along with other SIMI leaders on March 28.
''We have to find out whether Kamruddin belonged to AP and check his relations in the state. He will not be brought to the state immediately,'' the official added.
Rao said, "Now, Billa is in judicial custody. The Karnataka police sought Billa into their custody to ascertain his possible links with terror suspects and SIMI leaders in Karnataka. He will be handed over to Karnataka police after completion of the judicial custody."
