Bhopal, Apr 20: Expressing concern over the arrest of ''innocents'' on the name of banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activists, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee Vice President Gufran-i-Azam here today urged the state government to thoroughly investigate the matter.

Azam told reporters that he also visited Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and registered his objection in this regard. While Chouhan assured him that no person would be arrested out of sheer vindictiveness and he himself would monitor such matters. ''There is a possibility that under a conspiracy innocent people of Muslim community are being apprehended and troubled over ongoing drive against SIMI,'' he said, adding that a through research should be done before apprehending any person.

Raising question on the sudden crackdown on SIMI activists, Azam said that no arrest was made between 2001 and 2007 but these large-scale arrests smacked of a conspiracy. ''I always favour stern action against banned organisations but in its garb injustice cannot be tolerated,'' Azam added.

Azam felt that the Congress should alter its mindset whereby it considered Muslims as ''slaves.'' The comment came during a media question here on the party candidate's defeat in the Betul Lok Sabha bypoll. ''The Muslim community has always has good feelings for the Congress but it is not necessary they should always vote for the party. Despite good possibilities, the Congress lost Betul due to the policies of the party's 'jagirdars and contractors' besides their management,'' he said.

On Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's sudden tour of this state, Gufran-i-Azam said that the Amethi MP believed in grassroots work and the party's high-fliers should take a lesson.