CPI dubs SIMI encounter "mysterious", demands judicial probe

New Delhi [India], Nov 1 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Tuesday dubbed the SIMI encounter as mysterious and demanded an explanation from the Madhya Pradesh Government while calling for a high-level judicial probe into the matter. Rejecting the suggestions of an investigation by the NIA, CPI leader D. Raja said there are a lot of questions which need to be answered. "This appears to be mysterious. How could they escape? How did they get arms? All these questions need to be answered. Above all how could the videos be made. These all are issues which need to be answered by the state administration and the state government. And what are they talking about some kind of investigation by the NIA, it is not adequate," he said. "There should be high-level judicial probe which has to go into all the aspects of the entire incident because they were all under trails," he added. The Congress also cornered the state government with former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh questioning the authenticity of the encounter video after eight SIMI terrorists escaped from a high-security prison in Bhopal. Singh wondered as to what is the reason that only Muslims break out of jail and not Hindus while stating that he was against all those playing politics in the name of religion. The Congress general secretary stated that he had put ban on the SIMI when he was the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. "I was the first Chief Minister to put ban on the SIMI. Rajnath Singh was then the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh...he did not put the ban. Other controvertist Hindu organisations like the Bajrang Dal along with the SIMI used to ensure that riots take place. I had proofs and based on that the NDA put the ban on SIMI," he told ANI in an exclusive conversation. "I don't have love either for SIMI or Bajrang Dal. I am against all those who create ruckus and play politics in the name of religion. Owaisi ji is also included in that," he added. The Congress leader stated that the cases of the SIMI terrorists were taken back in 2011 during the BJP's rule in Madhya Pradesh. "Some SIMI terrorists escaped from jail in Khandwa in 2013. In 2014, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary was informed that they may attempt to run away from the jail. On October 31, 2016, eight SIMI terrorists ran away from jail. Now, what is the reason that only Muslims break out of jail and not Hindus," he added. Expressing his ire at the opposition parties, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said some leaders are doing vote bank politics which is highly condemnable, adding that one must refrain from doing so. "I don't know what sort of political mudslinging has begun. Few leaders of our nation cannot see the martyrdom of our soldiers. They cannot see the sacrifice of Ramashankar Yadav. They are the ones who murdered Shiv Prasad Kushwaha. They killed Sitaram Yadav in Khandwa. Some people are doing vote bank politics on this matter which is highly condemnable. One must refrain from doing this," he told the media in Bhopal after announcing a compensation for the family of slain security guard Ramashankar Yadav. Escalating his attack on the opposition, Chouhan said it is extremely unfortunate that they do not utter a word about the martyrdom of the soldiers. "Shame on such politics and shame on such leaders. For us, nation is our first priority," he added. Eight terrorists of the banned group SIMI, who escaped from the Bhopal Central Jail after killing a guard yesterday morning, were gunned down in an encounter by the state police. (ANI)