Sirsi man sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment in Lashkar-e-Taiba recruitment conspiracy case

Uttara Kannada: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has sentenced a Sirsi-based man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to radicalise youth and recruit them into the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The court also imposed a fine of ₹70,000 on the convict.

The convicted accused has been identified as Sayyed M. Idris, a resident of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district. The special court delivered the verdict under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), holding him guilty of engaging in activities aimed at promoting terrorism and aiding a banned terrorist organisation.

According to the prosecution, the case was initially registered by the West Bengal Police in April 2020 following intelligence inputs about attempts to radicalise vulnerable youth and facilitate their recruitment into LeT. Given the inter-state and national security implications, the case was subsequently handed over to the NIA for detailed investigation.

During the probe, NIA officials arrested Sayyed Idris from Sirsi and another accused, Altaf Ahmad Rather, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir. Investigators said the accused were part of a wider network attempting to expand the footprint of Lashkar-e-Taiba in India by exploiting social media platforms and ideological propaganda to influence young individuals.

As per the NIA’s charge sheet, Idris and Rather, along with a woman identified as Tania Parveen, had conspired to establish an LeT module in West Bengal. The plan allegedly involved spreading extremist ideology, identifying potential recruits and facilitating their indoctrination into the banned terrorist organisation.

Tania Parveen was earlier arrested by West Bengal Police during a search operation in the Baduria area of North 24 Parganas district. During the searches, police recovered illegal literature and other incriminating materials linked to extremist activities. These materials, the NIA argued, clearly demonstrated the intent of the accused to propagate terrorist ideology and support the operational goals of Lashkar-e-Taiba.

After completion of the trial, the special NIA court held that the prosecution had successfully established the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The court observed that acts of radicalisation and recruitment pose a serious threat to national security and require strict punishment to deter similar activities in the future.

NIA officials welcomed the verdict, stating that it underscores the agency’s commitment to combating terrorism and preventing extremist networks from taking root. Authorities reiterated that strict action would continue against individuals involved in radicalisation, terror financing and recruitment, in order to safeguard national security.

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