A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sentenced seven individuals, including mastermind T. Naseer, a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), in connection with the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case. The court handed down seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 48,000 each to Naseer, Syed Suhail Khan, Mohammed Umar, Zahid Tabrez, Syed Mudassir Pasha, Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, and Salman Khan. The sentences were imposed under various sections of the IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
The accused, including Naseer, had admitted guilt to charges brought by the NIA in case RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI. The case revolves around a terror conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by Naseer within the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. This conspiracy aimed at identifying, recruiting, training, converting, and radicalising vulnerable youth in the prison for carrying out terrorist activities in India.
Initially registered by the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) in July 2023, the case unfolded after the seizure of arms, ammunition, and digital devices from habitual offenders. Investigations uncovered the accused’s plans to launch terror attacks in Bengaluru as part of the banned LeT outfit’s violent anti-India agenda. The NIA later took charge of the investigation and revealed a broader conspiracy to aid Naseer’s escape during his transfer from prison to court. Naseer was an undertrial in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blast cases at the time.
After an extensive probe, the NIA filed charges against 11 arrested individuals and one absconder, Junaid Ahmed. Salman Khan was extradited from Rwanda through joint efforts by Indian and Rwandan authorities. Ongoing endeavors are in place to locate and apprehend the absconder, Junaid Ahmed.
On April 18, the NIA arrested Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in connection with a case dating back 30 years, involving alleged attacks on police personnel.
