Radicalism case: NIA raids houses of four accused in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday announced a case related to radicalization of prisoners by life-sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist T Nazir at various locations in Bengaluru. He was arrested for his part in the 2008 serial blasts in the city and is now in Bengaluru Central Jail.

NIA searched the houses of four accused including a fugitive. Other locations identified were locations belonging to two other suspects who were arrested in the same case. NIA sleuths seized digital devices, some incriminating documents and money with face value of Rs 7.3 lakh during raids conducted at the facilities of Mohammed Omar, Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, Tanveer Ahmed, Mohammed Farooq and fugitive Junaid Ahmed. , The three accused are accused in the case registered under various sections of the IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 (UAPA) and the Explosive Substances Act of 1884.

In July, the city police had arrested five suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives from the police limits of RT Nagar and Hebbal on terrorism charges. After their interrogation, sexto suspects were arrested from RT Nagar police limits in August. The police had collected a cache of arms and ammunition, among them seven pistols, four hand grenades, one charger and 45 bullets and four walkie-talkies.

The NIA took charge of the custody of the six arrested accused after taking charge of the case on October 25. Investigation revealed that Umar, Rabbani, Ahmed, Farooq and Junaid had come in contact with Nazir during his imprisonment in the Central Jail. It was revealed that Nazir had radicalized and recruited these individuals for terrorist acts. After their release from jail, the five accused, all habitual offenders, conspired to commit terrorist acts under the leadership of Junaid and following the instructions of Nazir, the NIA said in a press release.

Junaid, who went on the run after being made an accused in a case related to red sandalwood smuggling in 2021, was in touch with other accused through encrypted communication platforms. According to the statement, it also provided funds to others to acquire arms and ammunition and keep them in safe custody.