Eight SIMI terrorists who escaped from Bhopal Jail killed in encounter

Bhopal: Eight terrorists of banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), who managed to escape from the Bhopal Central Jail early Monday, were killed in an encounter on the outskirts of Madhya Pradesh's capital.

The SIMI activists had escaped from the Central Jail early today morning by killing a security guard and scaling the prison wall with the help of bed sheets.

Confirming the development, MP Home Minister Bhupendra Singh said, "All 8 SIMI activists, who escaped from jail, were killed in police encounter at Malikheda near Bhopal."

The names of the SIMI terrorists are: Amzad, Zakir Hussain Sadiq, Mohammad Salik, Mujeeb Shaikh, Mehbood Guddu, Mohammad Kalid Ahmed, Aqeel and Majid.

Following the jail break, Madhya Pradesh Police was on high alert. The state border was sealed and security was tightened and a search operation is on to nab the terrorists.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhoopendra Singh had accepted that the incident pointed to a major security lapse.

This is the second major jail break by operatives of banned SIMI in three years after the sensational escape by seven members of the group from a jail in Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh in 2013.

Four among them were notorious criminals involved in dacoity, loot and treason. They had earlier escaped from Khandwa Jail and were later arrested from Odisha, police said.

Earlier speaking to the media, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the administration is making all efforts to nab the SIMI terrorists. Acting tough the CM suspended DIG Jail, ADG Jail and two other prison officials.

DIG Bhopal Raman Singh said, "Eight SIMI activists escaped around 2-3 am by killing a jail security guard."

They killed the guard by slitting guard's throat with steel plate and glass after overpowering him, the DIG said.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry sought a report from the Madhya Pradesh government about the jail break.

Also Read: Four killed SIMI activists learned bomb-making in UP's Bijnor

This was the second major jail break by operatives of banned SIMI in three years after the sensational escape by seven members of the group from a jail in Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh in 2013.

The Home Ministry also asked the Madhya Pradesh government to send a detailed report about the jail break, whether there was any lapse on the part of the jail administration and the steps taken to check such incidents.