A Hubli court on Tuesday asked the police to produce all the 16 suspected militants, believed to be members of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India outfit, on November 18.

First Additional District and Sessions Court Judge V G Bopaiah passed the order when nine of the 16 were produced in the Hubli court.

The nine who were produced before the judge were: Asadulla Abubaker, Shakeel Ahmed Mali, Allabakhsh Yadawad, Yaha Kammukutti, Syed Sadiq, Mohammad Yasin, Mohammad Ansar, Muroz alias Mulla and P A Shaduli.

They were in judicial custody in Hindalga jail in Belgaum.

The remaining seven, lodged in Indore and Bhopal jails in Madhya Pradesh [Images], were absent, Public Prosecutor C S Patil told PTI.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Jaalgar has filed an application before the court stating that Shakeel Ahmed Mali and Allabakhsh Yadawad may be discharged from the case as the two have "no sufficient evidence" against them.

However, the public prosecutor said he would file objections to the application on November 4.

Hubli Bar Association president C S Patil has appealed to the state government to constitute a special court to try all
suspected terrorists otherwise it would be difficult to maintain law and order at the court premises.