Cops release pics of 5 SIMI suspects

In the wake of the blast on Bangalore's Church Street that claimed a woman's life, the Mumbai police have stepped up their efforts to make the city secure for the upcoming New Year celebrations. The police on Monday released pictures of five alleged Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) members who had escaped from Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa jail in October 2013. The police have requested citizens to be alert and inform the police if they know anything about the five accused.

The special branch 1 of Mumbai police released pictures of five alleged SIMI members, Amjad Khan, Mohammed Aslam Khan, Mohammed Aijazuddin, Zakir Hussain and Sheikh Mehboob, who managed to escape from Shahid Loknayak Tantya Bhil district jail in a daring jailbreak in 2013. All the accused have been in jail since 2011 under various charges of murder, dacoity and communal violence. All five accused were shifted from Bhopal Central Prison to Khandwa jail to face trial for the murder of Anti-terrorist Squad constable Sitaram Yadav in 2009.

Husain also faces the charge of killing constable Shivpratap Singh during a raid in Ratlam in 2011. Mehboob is being probed for the September 13, 2008 blasts in Delhi and the July 26, 2008 blasts in Ahmedabad, respectively.
Sanjay Shintre, deputy commissioner of police, SB1, said, "We have released the pictures of the accused who fled from Khandwa jail and appeal to the citizens to help police by informing us if they know anything about these accused. Citizens' participation will help police trace and arrest them."