Nationwide Crackdown: NIA Raids 17 Sites In Bengaluru Prison Radicalization Investigation Across 7 States

Raids were conducted at 17 locations in seven states by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with its probe into the Bengaluru prison radicalization case on Teusday, as per individuals familiar with the development.

Several individuals were allegedly radicalized by T Naseer, a life imprisonment convict and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, inside the Bengaluru central prison, encouraging them to carry out terror attacks in the country.

Photo Credit: PTI

NIA Raids 17 Sites

The case was originally registered by the Bengaluru City Police following the seizure of arms and ammunition in July 2023, including 7 pistols, 4 hand grenades, one magazine, 45 live rounds, and 4 walkie-talkies. NIA assumed control of the investigation on October 25, 2023, and had conducted previous raids in the case on December 13, 2023.

It remains uncertain if NIA's raids on Tuesday are related to Friday's blast at a popular cafe in Bengaluru. However, individuals familiar with the developments indicated that they would investigate potential links. The agency recently took over the probe into the Rameshwaram cafe blast, as reported by Hindustan Times.

In the Bengaluru prison radicalization case, the federal agency has already charge-sheeted eight individuals, including Naseer and two absconders. Naseer, a native of Kerala's Kannur, has been serving a life sentence since 2013, while Junaid Ahmed and Salman Khan, suspected to have fled abroad, were radicalized by him while in prison.

Others suspected of having come in contact with Naseer, including Syed Suhail Khan, Mohammed Umar, Zahid Tabrez, Syed Mudassir Pasha, and Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, have also been charge-sheeted by the agency under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Substances Act, and Arms Act, as reported by Hindustan Times.

"Naseer had managed to get them all shifted to his barracks after a careful assessment of their potential with a view to radicalize and recruit them into the LeT. He first managed to radicalize and recruit Junaid and Salman to further the activities of the LeT; thereafter, he conspired with Junaid to radicalize and recruit the other accused," NIA said in a statement in January.