Britain bans Indian Mujahideen

Indian Mujahideen has become the 48th organisation banned by the UK.

The group is thought to be involved in the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, India’s financial capital. More than 160 people lost their lives in the attack with many others injured.

India outlawed IM group in 2010 after it was suspected to be involved in an attack on a popular bakery, called German Bakery in Pune, western India, in which 17 people died and more than 60 people were injured.

The militant group (IM) is already outlawed in the US and in New Zealand.

James Brokenshire, the Home Office Minister told the Commons on Wednesday that there is substantial evidence that Indian Mujahideen is concerned in terrorism and it is only right that the UK adds the group to its list of banned groups.

The UK coalition government's move to ban Indian Mujahideen from operating in the UK was welcomed by the Opposition. According to Shadow Home Office minister Diana Johnson, the IM was behind some of the "most appalling acts of terrorism" in recent years.

Although the Indian government had banned the group two years ago, the country's top police officers still have the group under their radar. In September 2012, it was reported that the Indian police will hold a special session to discuss strategies to deal with IM. this is because there is a growing concerns in India about home-grown terrorist threats and it is believed that a majority of members belonging to the IM group are from India. Recent violence attacks including the violence in India's north eastern state of Assam has been attributed to home-grown terrorism activities.