Modi was main target of nabbed SIMI operatives

Terrorists did recce of Modi’s Kanpur, Delhi, Ambikapur rallies

Raipur, November 20

Chhattisgarh police on Wednesday claimed that recently arrested eight operatives of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) had planned to attack on BJP leader Narendra Modi’s Kanpur, Delhi and Ambikapur rallies but could not do so due to heightened security in wake of October 27 Patna blasts.

“During interrogation, Umer Siddiqui, who is leader of the arrested terrorists, admitted that he wanted to kill Modi. He had also done recce of Modi’s Kanpur, Delhi and Ambikapur rallies and prepared map of the areas,” said DGP Ramnivas.

“Siddiqui changed his plan when he found enhanced security in the three cities for Modi’s rallies. He then hatched alternate plan under which he first wanted to trigger stampede in the three rallies through blasts and then use suicide bomber to kill Modi,” he added.

He told that Siddiqui framed the plan with the help of Abdulla alias Haider Ali, an alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative and one of the four accused in Patna blasts. Abdulla had also arranged explosives and other essential items from Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) for terror attacks in Kanpur, Delhi and Ambikapur rallies.

Siddiqui has also masterminded July 7 Bodh Gaya blasts. Besides, he told the police that he was part of team that architected Patna blasts. “Siddiqui informed us that Abdulla and other three IM operatives Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu, Numan Ansari and Taufeeq Ansari will stay at Raipur after Patna blasts. He further admitted that all the four absconders were involved in Hyderabad blasts,” said Ramnivas.

The four accused of Patna blasts had play to stay long at Raipur but escaped on November 9 when they learnt about police raid in their rented house.

Ramnivas informed that the State intelligence department had kept an eye on suspicious activities of Siddiqui and other seven arrested terrorist for the past three years.

“The terrorists were operating very cautiously in the State. They used all tricks to deceive us like leaving phone in “calling mode” at one place and moving to phone booths to contact their colleagues. They also used letters to exchange information. We have alerted Intelligence Bureau about their activities on August 17. Eventually, we arrested them on November 14,” he said.

He claimed that with the arrest of eight terrorists, the police had completely destroyed SIMI network in Chhattisgarh.

Asked whether Siddiqui was a SIMI member or IM operative, Ramnivas said Siddiqui had links with both the terror outfits but he seemed to have established his own module in Raipur as other arrested terrorists used to address him aamir (chief).

“Siddiqui accepts that he had connection with wanted terrorist Abdul Subhan Taukeer till 2009. Taukeer is not in Pakistan. We are also inquiring whether Siddiqui’s module is connected to Bhatkal module, Darbhanga module and other terror outfits or not,” he added.