SIMI members held, role being probed

SIMI members held, role being probed
PRASANNAKUMAR KESKAR

PUNE, MARCH 12: Sajid Sundke, the city unit chief of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), was arrested along with his four associates today for suspected involvement in communal riots in downtown Ganj Peth and Ghorpade Peth areas of the city over the weekend.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Police Commissioner K.K. Kashyap said some provocative literature and pages downloaded from a website were also recovered from them.

The other SIMI members arrested are Firoze Mehoob Pathan, Abdul Aziz, Abdul Razzak and Abdul Wahab. However, SIMI's national unit office bearer Iliyas Ghouse -- who has been named in the FIR -- is still absconding.

According to Kashyap, Sajid and his associates had gone underground after violence erupted on Friday. He said the police received information that Sundke had delivered a provocative speech in Ganj Peth shortly before the mobs ran amok.

Kashyap said that copies of the printouts which were recovered from Sajid, had been displayed in Ganj Peth. He said these pages contain provocative photographs.

With the arrest of Sundke and his associates, the number of SIMI members rounded up for their suspected involvement in the recent violence has reached eight.

Three people were arrested from Pune Cantonment area on Sunday. They have been remanded to police custody. All those arrested have been charged with damaging public property, rioting and inciting communal passions.