Court allows STF to take SIMI terrorists on 13-day remand

ROURKELA: A local court in Odisha on Thursday allowed the Special Task Force of Odisha Crime Branch to take the five suspected terrorists of banned outfit Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) on 13-day remand for further interrogation.

The Rourkela Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court allowed the STF to take the SIMI terrorists on 13 days remand against 30 days sought by police.

An eight-member team led by STF IG Arun Bothra reached Rourkela to interrogate the arrested terrorists.

Meanwhile, one insurance agent Naveen Sahu has been arrested for allegedly helping five arrested SIMI operatives for preparing forged documents for availing fake identity and bank passbooks.

Crime Branch Special DG B.K. Sharma said the five arrested would be interrogated about their terror module and activities across the country.

He said the police would interrogate them about their terror activities, local links, associates and their purpose of staying in Odisha.

DGP K.B. Singh said the National Investigating Agency (NIA), STF and police from other states would interrogate the five arrested terrorists at Bhubaneswar.