Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), an Islamist fundamentalist organisation, has conducted a preliminary survey on IBM and Dell to gain information, the centre stated in its affidavit to the Supreme Court, reports the Economic Times.

According to the centre, SIMI activists arrested in Karnataka in last year had revealed that the exercise was part of their plan to attack Goa, Mangalore and Bangalore. The series of meetings, attended by top leaders of Simi’s Karnataka wing, had finalised a plot to attack the state by targeting beaches in Goa and Mangalore, and top IT multinationals.

The series of meetings discussed various concerns such as the Gujarat riots, demolition of Babri Masjid, the American-led invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and the crisis in Palestine to justify their call for jihad or holy war against infidels. The arrest of the top leaders forced the terrorist outfit to turn their focus to states such as Gujarat and Rajasthan.

According to intelligence agencies, the arrests in Karnataka could be the most obvious as Simi has deeply influenced Muslim extremists. The affidavit stated that most of the activists were highly educated. X