Highlights
– Indian police arrested ten SIMI members in relation to July 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts
– SIMI linked to nearly every major bombing throughout India in recent years
– Gujarat police uncover training camp in Halol jungle
– Similar serial bombings remain likely for the near to mid-term
On August 16, 2008, Indian police arrested ten members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in connection to the July 27, 2008 serial blasts in Ahmedabad . Among the ten suspects was the alleged “mastermind” of the explosions, Abu Bashir, who was captured in Lucknow.
As we previously reported, a group claiming to be named the “Indian Mujahideen” claimed responsibility for the Ahmedabad attacks, as well as two previous serial bombings in Uttar Pradesh and Jaipur (Previous Report). Officials originally speculated that the group was a front organization for several terrorist groups operating in India; however, they now believe that the Indian Mujahideen or IM is merely another identity for SIMI. Ahmedabad Police Chief PC Pandey stated, “Indian Mujahideen is another name for SIMI – all one must do is to remove the ‘S’ and the last ‘I’ from the banned outfit to get the acronym of the group that claims responsibility.”
While over 50 active SIMI members suspected of involvement in the July 2008 bombings remain at large, the capture of a key leader is significant. Indian officials rarely capture individuals responsible for terrorist attacks and security is eventually relaxed several months after an attack is carried out, allowing insurgents to once again operate more freely throughout the country.
Previous Attacks Attributed to SIMI
Indian officials have blamed SIMI for nearly every major bombing in recent years, including the infamous 2006 explosions on commuter trains in Mumbai . While the group most likely operates in conjunction with other terrorist organizations, the recent arrests indicate that SIMI likely spearheaded many of the serial attacks that have plagued the country over the past year.
SIMI has also been linked to a July 2003 bombing at a Hindu temple in Bihar, killing six people and causing extensive damage to the temple . Additionally, members were accused of detonating a bomb in a busy shopping district in New Delhi in August 2001 in retribution for the capture of one of their “functionaries” . SIMI was founded in 1977 but attracted little attention until the Indian government accused it of inciting religious hatred and riots in 2001.
The Ahmedabad blasts also indicated that the group was attempting to incite communal unrest. More than 1,000 people died in 2002 when riots broke out between Muslims and Hindus after 59 Hindu pilgrims were also killed in a train fire in Gujarat. The fire, originally blamed on Muslims, was ruled accidental but the majority of those killed were Muslim. The 2002 riots were mentioned in the email sent by IM claiming responsibility for the attack.
Terror Training Camp
Gujarat police reported that Safdar Nagori, the SIMI Madhya Pradesh leader, was arrested in March 2008 after reportedly training at least 25 SIMI insurgents at a terror training camp in the Halol jungle. The participants were from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and police are continuing investigations in all three states to locate additional suspects.
Police also revealed that the explosives used in the Ahmedabad bombings were sent from Madhya Pradesh and the suspects likely stole the vehicles used in the attack. SIMI likely carried out the Jaipur bombings as well, due to the numerous similarities in the manner in which the bombs were assembled and planted in both cities.
Outlook
On August 5, 2008, the Delhi High Court rejected a government request to extend a ban on SIMI, due to insufficient evidence proving that SIMI is unlawful. The ban on SIMI has been extended three times since 2001 and the recent hearing was to extend the ban to 2010. The recent arrests will likely prompt the Indian government to appeal the decision in the near-term.
Two key suspects – Taufiq Bilal and Qayamuddin – remain at large in addition to at least 50 other operatives linked to the Ahmedabad bombings and likely responsible for several additional acts of terrorism. As such, SIMI, as well as other India based terrorist groups, will likely continue to carry out deadly bombings, aiming to incite communal unrest throughout the country for the near to mid-term.
