SIMI has links with Lashker, says Govt

Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State or Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal said the links have been revealed in investigations into a number of cases.

He said 181 activists of SIMI were arrested in various states since 2006 and arms, ammunition, incriminating literature and other items were recovered from them.

Of them, 128 were arrested in Madhya Pradesh only, Jaiswal said.

To another question, Jaiswal said India had on March 31 provided a list of 133 Pakistani prisoners and 14 Pakistani fishermen lodged in various Indian jails.

Pakistan provided a list of 53 Indian prisoners and 436 fishermen lodged in various Pakistani jails, he said.

No specific time-frame has been fixed for repatriation of these prisoners, Jaiswal said.

The lists were exchanged in conformity with the recommendations of the India-Pakistan Judicial Committee set up pursuant to a bilateral understanding.