SIMI which was officially founded on April 25, 1977 has its roots in the Aligarh Muslim University as the founder President Mohammad Ahmadullah Siddiqi was a student of the University.

SIMI gradually spread its network across Uttar Pradesh and then firmly established itself in Maharashtra, Kerala and West Bengal.

On flashing back to the good old times at the Aligarh Muslim University, alumni Dinesh Sharma remembers the organisation with ideologies that were against national interests.

"While I was studying, an organisation namely, SIMI was founded and its founder was a student of Aligarh Muslim University. Their activities were anti national," said Dinesh Sharma, an ex AMU student.

Before SIMI was banned, it had a President and a working committee which were elected every two years. The natures of memberships were of two kinds-basic members or Ansars (Friends of God) and general members or Ikhwans (Brothers).

But with the passage of time, the activities of the organisation drew the attention of both the critics and government. The Centre then imposed a ban on SIMI in September 2001 under Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act after the 9/11 attack.

Now with SIMI activists under the scanner of law, students at the Aligarh Muslim University say that the University has no connection with the banned organisation. They differ in their ideologies with SIMI.

Condemning the recent blasts in Mumbai, the students say that if the organisation is found guilty of the mayhem of July 11, then it should definitely be put behind the bars.

"SIMI might had some connection with AMU but now it does not have any connection with the University since it is banned. AMU has its ideology and is a secular university and we do not have any link with them. If you do not have any evidence then you have no right to punish them," said Ishad Mohammed, a student.

"If anyone is working like this, then they should be punished. If such incidents happen in any country, then it should be condemned," said Johnny Foster, music director at AMU.

Meanwhile, the police in Aligarh claim that they are keeping an eye on the activities of SIMI and whenever there is any incident similar to the Mumbai blasts, they beef up the security in important places.

"SIMI is a banned organisation and it is true that it has its origins from here. After being banned, we are keeping an eye on their activities but as of now there is nothing suspicious about them. When incidents such as blasts occur in any part of the country then we do take preventive measures in all the important places," said Jagdish Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Aligarh.

SIMI was born as a radical students outfit with an aim to revive Islam in India. Some of the known leaders were Shahid Badar Falah and Safdar Nagori.

Today, the leadership is believed to be in complete disarray after the ban in September 2001.(ANI)