Pre-dawn crack down on SIMI hq.

By Devesh K. Pandey

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 28. In a pre-dawn swoop, the Delhi police today cracked down on the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) headquarters in the Zakir Nagar area here and took into custody four persons, including its all-India president, Shahid Badr Salhi.

The arrests were made around 3 a.m. following the Union Government's order banning the organisation. Those arrested included the manager of the SIMI publication ``Islamic Movement'', Saeef Nachan, its assistant manager, Mohammad Khalid, and assistant office secretary, Irfan Ahmed.

The Zakir Nagar Municipal Councillor, Mr. Asif Mohammad Khan, was also arrested for ``causing communal disharmony and for sympathising with the banned outfit''.

According to local residents, Mr. Khan was picked up by the police from his residence around 1-30 a.m. His wife, Ms. Famina Khan, said all roads to their house were cordoned off and no one was allowed to enter. ``Over 10 policemen accompanied by a senior officer forced open the door and took my husband into custody without giving any reasons,'' she said. Later, the police said Mr. Khan had been actively involved in pro-Osama Bin Laden poster propaganda which had the potential to create tension.

During the pre-dawn raids at the SIMI headquarters, a lot of ``inflammatory'' publicity material was also seized, said the police. After a thorough search of the premises including the well-furnished library and hostel, the police sealed the building.

Though the process of arrests passed off peacefully, local residents expressed fear that they could become a target of mob attack. They also distanced themselves from the banned organisation. ``We do not know anyone in SIMI,'' said one local resident. Many others even denied knowing that the SIMI headquarters were located in Zakir Nagar. However, the air was thick with rumours that secret meetings were being held in the area to decide the future course of action in the wake of the Centre's decision to ban SIMI.

Local residents also seemed not very happy with the Councillor's decision to distribute posters ``which incited communal discord''. Rashtriya Janata Dal's, South Delhi unit vice- president, Mr. Mohammad Asrar, said the Councillor's activities over the past several months had been a major source of embarrassment.

Anticipating protests by SIMI activists and the Councillor's supporters, the police stepped up security in the area. There was heavy deployment of police personnel after word came that SIMI activists had decided to stage a protest against the ban and the arrests soon after the Friday prayers at the Zakir Nagar mosque. However, the afternoon passed off peacefully with a police platoon taking up position near the SIMI office.

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