NIA chargesheets 30 SIMI activists in Kerala

KOCHI - The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Thursday chargesheeted 30 activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in connection with the Wagamon camp of December 2007 in Kerala where participants were allegedly imparted weapons training.

The NIA team submitted its chargesheet at the special NIA court here Thursday. Those named have been accused of sedition, conspiracy and launching a war on the nation.

Picturesque Wagamon, a popular tourist destination 70 km from Kottayam, came into national attention when it was found that a camp was conducted by a group of activists belonging to SIMI in 2007.

A case was registered by Kerala Police in 2008 and the next year, taking into account the seriousness of the issue, the case was taken up by NIA. The agency has found that arms training took place and participants were taught how to make bombs at the camp.

It also mentions that it was at this camp that plans were drawn up for terrorist attacks at some places in the country.

There are also reports that the camp at Wagamon was financed by Pakistan.

NIA says more than 30 people took part in the camp, which included four from Kerala, nine each from Karnataka and Gujarat, seven form Madhya Pradesh and one from Maharastra.

The first accused in the case is P.A. Shaduli, who hails from Wagamon.

Of the 30 accused, all but seven are in jail and the NIA is trying to track down the remaining seven.