NIA Conducts Raids in 7 States Over Bengaluru Prison Radicalization Probe

Within the Bengaluru Central Prison, NIA T. Naseer, an individual associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and his wife, who were sentenced to prison, have allegedly influenced numerous individuals towards radicalization.

Reports indicate that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids across seven states at 17 locations on Tuesday as part of their inquiry into the radicalization case connected to Bengaluru prison.

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T. Naseer, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for his ties to LeT, is suspected of indoctrinating several inmates at Bengaluru Central Prison, motivating them to carry out acts of terror across the nation.

The initial case, which involved the discovery of weapons and ammunition such as seven pistols, four hand grenades, one magazine, forty-five live rounds, and four walkie-talkies in July 2023, was initially handled by the Bengaluru City Police. However, the NIA took over the investigation on October 25, 2023, and by December 13, 2023, multiple raids had already been conducted.

Despite uncertainty regarding any link between the bombing at a prominent Bengaluru café on Friday and the NIA’s Tuesday raids, those overseeing the case have expressed their commitment to exploring potential connections. The agency assumed responsibility for investigating the Rameshwaram café explosion on Monday.

Eight individuals, including Naseer and two fugitives, have already been indicted by the federal agency in the Bengaluru prison radicalization case. Naseer, originally from Kannur in Kerala, has been serving a life sentence since 2013.

During his imprisonment, Naseer reportedly radicalized Salman Khan and Junaid Ahmed, both of whom are believed to have escaped abroad. The following individuals are suspected of having connections with Naseer: Mohammed Umar, Zahid Tabrezm, Sayed Mudassir Pasha, Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, and Ayed Suhail Khan. Charges have been filed against these five individuals under various acts, including the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities Act, the Explosives Substances Act, and the Arms Act.

Naseer strategically assessed each person’s potential before relocating them to his barracks with the aim of radicalizing and recruiting them into LeT. He successfully radicalized and recruited Junaid and Salman to further the activities of LeT. In January, the NIA stated that Naseer collaborated with Junaid to radicalize and recruit the other accused. Following a series of crimes, Junaid was supposed to have fled abroad after his release from prison.

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Moreover, the investigations revealed that Naseer initiated overseas money transfers to his co-accused to support NIA operations both inside and outside the prison. Additionally, he, along with Salman, planned to deliver weapons, ammunition, hand grenades, and walkie-talkies to other participants for a potential fidayeen attack and to assist Naseer in escaping police custody during transportation to court.