The Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has delivered a significant verdict in the 2023 Bengaluru jail radicalization case. The court has convicted and sentenced a total of seven accused, including the mastermind T. Naseer, who is associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
In this case, along with Naseer, Syed Suhail Khan, Mohammed Umar, Jahid Tabrez, Syed Mudassir Pasha, Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, and Salman Khan have also been sentenced. The court found all convicts guilty under various sections, including the IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
The court has sentenced all seven accused to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. Additionally, a fine of 48,000 rupees has been imposed on each individual.
This case was linked to a radical network and terrorist activities operating within the prison, for which the NIA gathered significant evidence through a serious investigation. The court’s decision is being viewed as a major success for security agencies.
A key aspect that emerged in this case is that all the accused had already pleaded guilty to the charges filed by the NIA. This case is related to RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI, concerning a terror conspiracy hatched within Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Jail. T. Naseer, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), emerged as the primary name behind this conspiracy.
During the investigation, it was also revealed that some prisoners were being targeted in an organized manner inside the jail. Through this network, simple-minded and ideologically vulnerable youth were identified. After inducting them into the group, they were gradually trained, brainwashed, and even underwent religious conversion to push them toward radicalization. The objective was to prepare them for terror activities in India.
The entire matter first came to light in July 2023 when the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) apprehended several habitual offenders and recovered weapons, ammunition, and digital devices from them. Further investigation revealed that these individuals were connected to a large terror network.
The plan of these accused was to advance the anti-India agenda of the banned terror organization Lashkar-e-Taiba. They were plotting terror attacks in Bengaluru city and were continuously preparing for them. Timely action by security agencies led to the exposure of this conspiracy, and a major threat was averted.
Given the gravity of the matter, the NIA delved deep into the network and uncovered a major conspiracy. The investigation revealed that the primary objective of this conspiracy was to free T. Naseer from prison. The plan was to attempt his escape while he was being transported to court for a hearing.
It is noteworthy that T. Naseer was already serving a life sentence in connection with the 2008 Bengaluru serial blast cases and was lodged in jail as an under-trial prisoner at that time.
During the investigation of this entire network, the NIA made several key revelations and filed a chargesheet against a total of 11 accused. Additionally, one accused, identified as Junaid Ahmed, is still reported to be absconding. Security agencies are conducting continuous raids and search operations to locate him.
Another significant arrest in this case was that of Salman Khan. He was extradited from the Republic of Rwanda to India following joint efforts by the NIA and relevant Rwandan agencies, after which he was arrested.
Currently, efforts have been intensified to apprehend the absconding accused Junaid Ahmed, and agencies are maintaining a constant watch on his possible hideouts.
