The Centre on Monday extended the ban imposed on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for another five years for its alleged involvement in fomenting terrorism and disturbing peace and communal harmony in the country.

Union home minister Amit Shah said in a post on X: “Bolstering Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of zero tolerance against terrorism, SIMI has been declared as an ‘Unlawful Association’ for a further period of five years under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).”

“The SIMI has been found involved in fomenting terrorism, disturbing peace and communal harmony to threaten the sovereignty, security and integrity of Bharat,” Shah said.

SIMI was first banned in 2001 during the Atal Bihar Vajpayee government, and since then, the ban has been extended every five years.

In a notification, the home ministry said SIMI has been continuing its subversive activities and re-organising its activists who are still absconding.

The group is disrupting the secular fabric of the country by polluting the minds of the people by creating communal disharmony, propagating anti-national sentiments and escalating secessionism by supporting militancy and undertaking activities which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country, the notification said.