SIMI planned to strike pilgrim train, Shia mosque: Police

RAIPUR: Suspected Students' Islamic Movement of India ( SIMI) operative Umer Siddhiqui, who was recently nabbed here, had planned to attack a Delhi-Bodh Gaya special train and the Shia mosque at Lucknow, police said today.

Police added that along with the recent Patna blasts accused Haider Ali alias 'Abdulla', Siddhiqui (35), had also trained youth to make bombs and carry out suicide attacks on political leaders.

"During interrogation, Siddhiqui confessed that they had planned to execute blasts on the Delhi-Bodh Gaya VIP special train for pilgrims, targeting people from foreign countries like Japan and Sri Lanka," Additional Director General (ADG) of Police (Intelligence), Mukesh Gupta, told reporters here.

Police also recovered a letter written by former SIMI head Safdar Nagori, who is presently being held at Sabarmati Jail, from Siddhiqui's possession.

Siddhiqui and his associates had also reconnoitred Sirpur, a Buddhist historical site located around 90km from the Chattisgarh state capital, Gupta added.

Siddhiqui, said to be the mastermind of the July 7 blasts at the Bodh Gaya temple complex in Bihar, is one of the 13 alleged SIMI operatives who have been arrested over the last two weeks in Raipur.

Police also claim to have recovered several video clippings and documents from the arrested SIMI operatives which are "anti-Indian" in nature.

"We have seized clippings of hate speeches and attack strategies in the form of CDs. These clippings resemble those used by extremist outfits working in Pakistan," he said.