Jul 01 2008
Goa can be the next target of SIMI!
It is reported that the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) can target Goa for its next terror operations, presently being in Karnataka.
SIMI had made Karnataka its base to conduct and assist in terror acts across India. But now, Intelligence Bureau sources said that the change in Karnataka government switching to first time Bharatiya Janata Party in power has made the banned outfit shift out of the state.
Mohammad Asif, a SIMI operative who was arrested recently in Karnataka, revealed during his narco analysis test that the outfit had decided to shift out of the state if the BJP came to power.
With other gathered information, the IB has come to the conclusion that Goa would be the next hub for SIMI. An IB official said at least 60 per cent of SIMI’s operations have already been shifted to Goa.
IB told two reasons behind moving to Goa by SIMI. First, an attack on Goa would get SIMI worldwide attention thanks to the foreign tourist presence there. Second, security in Goa is not up to the mark lest it act as a deterrent for tourism which is one of the state’s primary sources of income.
A senior police officer in Goa told rediff.com that SIMI was in constant touch with certain Naxalite outfits and had sought their help in setting up base there.
A police officer in Karnataka said, “This move does not mean that their job will become easier. SIMI’s plans to carry out attacks in Karnataka are still on, and they need to keep a constant watch on its movements.”
In Goa SIMI plans to conduct training programs for its cadres, launch recruitment drives and, over a period of time, smuggle in arms and ammunition as was being done in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
