Uttar Pradesh Police flag SIMI as threat to Donald Trump, Aligarh as epicentre

AGRA: According to Uttar Pradesh Police, recent arrest of some terrorists has revealed that Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has link with Al Qaeda, and is a possible threat to Donald Trump and other US dignitaries.
Police have flagged neighbouring Aligarh district as the epicentre of their activities and claimed that SIMI’s motives are to abduct US authorities, diplomats in order to free Pakistani national Aafia Siddiqui from a US jail.
Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist with degrees from MIT and Brandeis University, was convicted of seven counts of attempted murder and assault of US personnel, and is serving her 86-year sentence at the Federal Medical Center, Texas.
Her name popped up on US wanted list during an interrogation of Pakistani Islamist militant Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. In 2008, she was arrested in Afghanistan and was accused of trying to shoot American soldiers and was sent for trial to New York.
According to police, SIMI operative Abu Faizal, who was arrested by Madhya Pradesh police a few years ago, had claimed that one of the motives of a designated terrorist organisation was to abduct US high ranking officials and diplomats in order to free Aafia.
After the Khandwa jailbreak on October 2, 2013 when some terrorists fled jail, UP Police claimed that Faizal’s friends who were part of SIMI are still at large.
The police also highlighted that nearly 25,000 Shia Muslims in Agra, who are angry over the death of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in a US drone attack, might stage heavy protest and asked its officials and policemen to maintain ultra-level of alert on any suspicious movement.
TOI has learnt that Trump will be accompanied by US Ambassador, US secretary (commerce), White House officials and others during his February 24 visit to Agra. A fleet of nearly 40 vehicles will escort Trump and the first lady to Taj Mahal.
According to police sources, nearly 600 duty points have identified where close to 3,000 cops will be deployed. A total of 3,200 cops, including 1,200 Agra policemen, will be deployed on the entire route for the umbrella protection of US President. The security perimeter will include around 250 NSG commandos, two anti-terrorism squads, nine superintendents of police, 18 additional superintendents of police, 55 circle officers, 132 inspectors, 450 sub-inspectors, 50 women sub-inspectors, 100 women constables, 2,000 constables, 10 each PAC and RAF companies and one flood company which will guard the Yamuna.