New Delhi: The Centre has extended by two more

years the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India

(SIMI), which has links with Pakistan-based terrorist outfits

including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its front, Indian

Mujahideen.

The Home Ministry has issued a notification in this regard

after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved the proposal of

extending ban on SIMI.

The ban would come into effect from this month end for a

period of two years, government sources said.

SIMI was declared outlawed in 2001 when it came to light

that the outfit was involved in a series of terrorist

activities.

The group was continuously having close contacts with LeT

and carrying out several terror strikes along with Indian

Mujahideen.

Though SIMI had challenged the government`s move in

various courts and also before the Special Unlawful Activities

(Prevention) Act tribunals on a number of occasions, it did

not get any relief.

Last month, the Home Ministry had issued an advisory to

Delhi and Rajasthan Police, saying controversial author Salman

Rushdie may be targeted by SIMI activists if he attended the

Jaipur Literary Festival.

PTI