(Image source from: Notorious SIMI terrorists arrested from Rourkela})

Odisha police, Telangana police and Intelligence Bureau in a joint operation have arrested, four suspected terrorists of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) from a house in the steel city of Rourkela.

The four terrorists, were absconding from Khandwa Jail in Madhya Pradesh and were nabbed late Tuesday from a house in the steel city of Rourkela in a joint operation by Odisha police, Telangana police and the Intelligence Bureau.

The 3-hour-long operation jointly conducted by a special tactical unit of Odisha’s Special Opeation Group, Telangana police and IB officials started late midnight at Mala Road under Plant site police station area of Rourkela, said special DG of State intelligence Arun Sarangi.

“All are involved in the activities of SIMI in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They were using a false identity and staying in Rourkela to collect money through dacoity for their other operations. All five hail from Madhya Pradesh and are also wanted by NIA,” said Director General of Police (DGP) K.B. Singh.

This Indian terror module pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) is a reorganised group of the virtually defunct Indian Mujahideen and SIMI elements, which was recruiting new members to carry out a string of terror strikes across the country, highly placed intelligence had last month said.

This fact came out during the questioning of 14 suspected Islamic State (IS) sympathisers who were arrested last week from 12 places in six cities in a synchronised raid conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the sources added.

The accused were identified as Shaikh Mehboob alias Guddu alias Maliq, Amjad alias Daud, Mohammed Aslam alias Bilal, Zakir Hussain alias Sadiq. Four weapons and ammunition has been recovered from their possession.

The arrested belong to Khandwa region of Madhya Pradesh and are reported to be involved in at least 17 cases in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh

The police had said that, they were on a run since Khandwa rail-break. States like Maharastra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana, MP and UP had announced awards.

NIA was also searching them in connection with Bijnor blast case and had announced a reward of Rs 10Lakh for them.

By Premji