Big action by NIA in case of radicalization of prisoners in Bengaluru jail, raids in 17 areas in seven states

About the radicalization of inmates in Bengaluru jail, the NIA is conducting searches at 17 locations across seven states. Since this morning, there have been raids in Bengaluru and several other states, including Tamil Nadu. The targets of these raids are thought to be conspirators of terrorism.

On January 12 this year, the National Investigation Agency arrested a life imprisonment man and a chargesheet was filed against eight people including two fugitives.

T Naseer, a resident of Kerala's Kannur district, is among the other accused named in the chargesheet. He has been incarcerated in Bengaluru Central Jail for life since 2013. Salman Khan and Junaid Ahmed, also known as JD, are thought to have left the country.

Others have been identified as Syed Suhail Khan alias Suhail, Mohammad Umar alias Omar, Zahid Tabrez alias Zahid, Syed Mudassir Pasha and Mohammad Faisal Rabbani alias Sadath. All eight accused have been chargesheeted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act.

The case was registered by the Bengaluru City Police on July 18, 2023, following the seizure of arms, ammunition, hand grenades and walkie-talkies from the possession of seven accused persons. The recovery was made when all seven people had gathered at the house of one of the accused.

NIA took over the investigation of this case in October 2023. In the year 2017, accused T. Naseer came in contact with other accused. Salam was in jail in a POCSO case. Intending to radicalize and recruit them into Lashkar, Naseer had managed to shift all of them to his barracks after carefully evaluating their potential.

He first managed to radicalize and recruit Junaid and Salman to further the activities of Lashkar. After this, he along with Junaid conspired to radicalize and recruit other accused.