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SIMI hand suspected in train blast

LUCKNOW: Preliminary investigations into the July 28 blast in New Delhi- bound Shramjeevi Express point to the involvement of the proscribed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in the crime.

The blast in the general compartment of the train near a railway crossing in the Jaunpur district that claimed 10 lives and caused serious injuries to more than 50 passengers was caused by an Amonium Nitrate based explosive, ADG (GRP) V K Bhalla said here on Sunday. The explosive used was a pulp soaked in a mixture of Amonium Nitrate and diesel assembled in a suitcase having a detonator attached to a timer clock. The timer and detonator have already been recovered from the spot, he added.

The blast, though, was similar to the one that rocked the Sabaramati Express near Barabanki in 2000 resulting in the loss of 11 lives. The subsequent arrest of militants in J&K had then revealed the involvement of SIMI in the crime, Mr Bhalla added. SIMI activists were later arrested and admitted their crime.

Reliable police sources admitted that despite being banned by the Centre on September 27, 2001, SIMI was still active in at least 21 UP districts, while ISI operatives were also active in more than 30 districts. The classified information in this regard was collated and published in a booklet distributed among police officials during the ``Police Week'' a few months back, sources added.

Meanwhile, computer generated photographs of the suspects of the Sharamjeevi blast were being prepared on the basis of eye-witness accounts.

UNI

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