1995 bomb seizure case involving SIMI activists: No chargesheet yet

KOZHIKODE: Even after 11 years, the police have not yet filed chargesheet in the controversial pipe bomb seizure case in which SIMI activists, including its former state secretary, are on the list of the accused.

Police seized hundreds of pipe bombs stored under the Koomankallu bridge under the Vengara police station limits in September 1995. A case was registered by the police (194/95) and the investigation was handed over to the Dy SP (Crime Detachment).

The police arrested three persons in connection with the incident. But chargesheets have not been filed in court yet.

Dy SP Vijayakumar, who is investigating the case, told Express that the case was still under investigation. “Some more accused are still at large,” he said.

But legal experts say that it is not necessary to arrest all the accused in order to file the chargesheet. The investigating officer can file the chargesheet against those arrested and proceed with the case.

According to the statements given by the accused to the police, the bombs were made for counter attacks if the ‘Hindu fascists’ create any trouble on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition in 1994.

C Abbas Ali, one of the accused in the case, had told the police that the SIMI workers used to gather at various places in Malappuram district to discuss “the torture faced by the Muslims in India and Kashmir”.

He told the police that Imam Ali, the hard-core terrorist, and his accomplice Hyderali had taken classes on how to make different kinds of bombs at a ‘Dalit camp’ held at Chavakkad. Imam Ali changed his name to Rayeez and stayed there posing as ready-made garment merchant from Tamil Nadu.

The SIMI workers made the pipe bombs at the residence of one Muhammad Sharief. They did not get a chance to use the bombs as there were no major clashes in 1993 and 1994.

They got scared when they read in the newspapers that Imam Ali was arrested in connection with the blast at the RSS headquarters in Chennai and at the residence of film director Manirathnam.