Ahmedabad:
Two men associated with the banned organisation SIMI (Students' Islamic Movement of India) have been arrested on the eve of the 133rd Lord Jagannath's rath yatra in the city, the police said.
"Two men associated with SIMI were arrested yesterday following a tip off that they were in the city for last few months," deputy commissioner of police (DCP) crime, Himanshu Shukla told reporters in Ahmedabad on Monday.
One Abu alias Abdulvali alias Abdufakir Siddiqui (34) and Hasibraza alias Samim Sayyed (43) were arrested from near Prem Darwaja area when they were traveling on a motorcycle.
"Hasibraza hails from Patna in Bihar and is an accused in the conspiracy to blow up Howrah bridge in Kolkatta. He also has number of cases registered against him for anti-social activities," Shukla said.
"Hasibraza is also accused of sending youths from Jalgaon in Maharashtra for training in Pakistan. He has been a top officer-bearer of SIMI previously and was actively involved in its activities," he said.
Siddiqui, who originally hails from Azamgadh in Uttar Pradesh, has been residing in the city for years. Hasibraza was working in a cloth shop here for last seven months, Shukla said.
A revolver, 20 live bullets and an air gun have also been recovered from the duo, he added.