Pramesh S Jain
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested three persons,including a prison psychiatrist and a City Armed Reserve policeman,following extensive searches in two districts of Karnataka in the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group’s prison radicalisation case of 2023.
Searches were conducted at five locations in Bengaluru and Kolar districts,leading to the arrest of Dr.Nagaraj, psychiatrist,Central Prison,Parappana Agrahara, Bengaluru,Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Chand Pasha, and Anees Fathima,mother of an absconding accused.
During the searches,various digital devices,cash,gold and incriminating documents were seized from the houses of the arrested accused and other suspects, according to the NIA.
According to the official release,the case relates to the recovery of arms,ammunition,explosives and digital devices,including two walkie-talkies,from habitual offenders who were allegedly conspiring to unleash terror activities in Bengaluru city with the aim of furthering the agenda of the proscribed LeT.
As part of the conspiracy,Dr.Nagaraj was allegedly smuggling mobile phones for use by prison inmates, including Tadiyandaveed Naseer (T. Naseer),a life-time convict lodged in terror cases in Central Prison, Bengaluru.Dr. Nagaraj was allegedly supported by one Pavithra in this activity.
Besides houses of Nagaraj and Pavithra,the NIA also searched the house of Anees Fathima,mother of absconder Junaid Ahmed and allegedly involved in passing instructions from Naseer to her son for raising funds and handing over the same to T Naseer in prison.
As per NIA investigations,Chand Pasha had,in 2022, been involved in passing information related to T. Naseer’s escort from prison to various courts in exchange of money.
The NIA has already charge sheeted nine accused, including Junaid Ahmed,under various Sections of IPC and UA(P) Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act in the case.Investigations and efforts to track the absconder are continuing.
