For the second time, SIMI activists stage large jailbreak
- The escaped convicts slit the throat of a guard and climbed the walls.
- This was the second major jail break by operatives of banned SIMI in three years.
Eight activists of the banned SIMI escaped from the Central Jail here today by killing a security guard and scaling the prison wall with the help of bed sheets, following which some officials responsible for jail security have been suspended.
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"Eight SIMI or Students Islamic Movement of India activists escaped at around 2-3 AM by killing a jail security guard," DIG Bhopal Raman Singh told PTI.
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Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said alert had been sounded across the state, while jail officials concerned looking after the security have been suspended.
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The state government has also announced a reward of ₹5 lakh each on the heads of the activists.
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They were identified as -- Amzad, Zakir Hussain Sadiq, Mohammad Salik, Mujeeb Shaikh, Mehbood Guddu, Mohammad Kalid Ahmed, Aqeel and Majid, an official said.
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The activists after killing the guard scaled the prison walls with the help of bed sheets, the DIG said.
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The Union Home Ministry today sought a report from the Madhya Pradesh government about the jail break.
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This was the second major jail break by operatives of banned SIMI in three years after the sensational escape by seven members of the group from a jail in Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh in 2013.
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A nationwide alert has been sounded for the hunt of the eight SIMI men, who escaped from Bhopal jail after killing a jail security guard, official sources said.
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All states neighbouring Madhya Pradesh have been specifically told to remain alert and keep special vigil along their borders with Madhya Pradesh, sources said.
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Central security officials were in regular touch with the state police officials and providing inputs to help nab the escapes.
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The Home Ministry also asked the Madhya Pradesh government to send a detailed report about the jailbreak, whether there was any lapse on the part of the jail administration and the steps taken to check such incidents.
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The central security agencies were particularly anxious as four of the seven SIMI activities, who escaped from a jail in Khandwa October 1, 2013, could be arrested only after three years and during the period of their hiding, the militants were involved in multiple incidents of terror and a bank robbery.
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While in hiding, the SIMI men were allegedly involved in terror activities in several states including Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
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SIMI was banned by the government in 2001.Â