Centre extends ban on terror outfit SIMI under UAPA for another 5 years

The Centre Monday extended the ban on terrorist group Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for five years for its involvement in fomenting terrorism and disturbing peace and communal harmony in the country.

In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that SIMI has been declared an “unlawful association” for five years under the UAPA, bolstering PM Narendra Modi’s vision of zero tolerance against terrorism. “The SIMI has been found involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony to threaten the sovereignty, security and integrity of Bharat,” Shah said. The SIMI was first declared outlawed in 2001 during then PM Atal Bihar Vajpayee’s tenure. Since then, the ban has been periodically extended.

In a gazette notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs cited about 17 terror cases where SIMI activists were allegedly involved over the last few years and at least 27 SIMI members who were sentenced by courts in different cases.