Five SIMI terrorists arrested in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 Five suspected terrorists of banned outfit Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), who had escaped from a ajil in Madhya Praddesh, have been arrested in Odisha's Rourkela city, police said on Wednesday.

The five terrorists, including a woman, were absconding from Khandwa Jail in Madhya Pradesh and were nabbed late Tuesday from a house in steel city of Rourkela in a joint operation by Odisha police, Telangana police and Intelligence Bureau.

The arrested have been identified as Mohammad Khalid, Amjad Khan, Zakir Khan, Mahboob Khan and his mother Najma, said Director General of Police (DGP) K.B. Singh.

Special Director General of Police (Intelligence) Arun Sarangi said they were arrested after three-hour-long operation jointly conducted by tactical unit of Odisha's special operation group, Telangana police and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials.

"All are involved in the activities of SIMI in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They were using a false identity and staying in Rourkela to collect money through dacoity for their other operations. All five hail from Madhya Pradesh and are also wanted by NIA," said K.B. Singh.

The five were also involved in a bank robbery and are suspected to be involved in several terror activities outside the state, said Sarangi.

The arrested people belong to Khandwa region of Madhya Pradesh and are reported to be involved in at least 17 other cases.

The police said at least five guns and several bullets have been seized from their possession.