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The Union government on Thursday issued an order imposing a nationwide ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) with immediate effect in the wake of allegations that it was carrying on anti-national activities and its activists were aligned with terrorist outfits like the Pakistan-backed Hizbul Mujahideen.
A notification to this effect was also issued.
Asked about the violent protests in Lucknow following the ban order, the Union Home Minister L K Advani said it 'only confirmed the tendency' of the outfit to create trouble.
He said, "The decision (to ban SIMI) will be implemented and the government will handle it firmly."
"The decision (to ban SIMI) was taken on Wednesday and has been endorsed by the Union Cabinet," Minister of State for Home Affairs I D Swami told rediff.com.
Sources in the home ministry said the Uttar Pradesh government had been applying tremendous pressure on the Centre for the last few months demanding the ban as some SIMI activists were found to be involved in terrorist activities.
"The demand was raised by other states, including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, as well. However, the government took the decision only after it had ample proof that the organisation was involved in anti-national activities," Swami said.
Senior Delhi police officers had a series of meetings with the officials of the Intelligence Bureau to coordinate further action.
"The IB has found material evidence linking SIMI with Saudi renegade Osama bin Laden. Some office bearers of SIMI had even threatened of serious consequences if a ban was imposed on the organisation," said an intelligence official posted in the Capital.
SIMI came into the limelight in 1993 when the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the IB unearthed its links with Pakistan-based terrorist groups operating in Kashmir, the official said.
SIMI became active with every passing year and its cadre began taking part in terrorist activities, he added.
According to intelligence officials, the ISI had a larger game plan. It wanted to bring SIMI and Kashmiri terrorists on one platform in its bid to engineer communal violence in the country.
With inputs from PTI
EARLIER REPORTS: Non-bailable case against SIMI chief, 5 activists arrested UP Govt claims proof of SIMI role in Kanpur riots
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