Pramesh S Jain
A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has convicted and sentenced another key operative of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case.
The NIA special court in Bengaluru sentenced Vikram Kumar alias Chota Usman to seven years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹30,000 under various provisions of the IPC,Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
Vikram is the eighth accused to be convicted in the case, re-registered by the NIA.Last month,the court had sentenced seven other accused, including the alleged mastermind T Naseer, who is linked to LeT and is accused of orchestrating the radicalisation conspiracy while lodged as an undertrial prisoner in the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in connection with the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts.
According to the NIA investigation,Vikram Kumar was radicalised and recruited by Naseer along with co-accused Junaid Ahmed during his time in prison.
After his release,he allegedly remained in contact with them and played an active role in the conspiracy.
In May 2023,Vikram is said to have collected a consignment of hand grenades and walkie-talkies from Ambala in Haryana through a “dead drop”and later handed them over to a co-accused in Bengaluru.
Investigators further revealed that Vikram,allegedly funded by Junaid,was involved in a larger conspiracy to facilitate Naseer’s escape while being transported from prison to court.
The plot was part of LeT’s agenda to advance terror activities in India and undermine national security.
The case was initially registered by the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch in July 2023 after the seizure of arms, ammunition, and digital devices from suspected offenders who were allegedly planning a series of terror attacks in the city.
After taking over the probe,the NIA uncovered a broader conspiracy,including the prison radicalisation network and the escape plan.
The agency has filed a chargesheet against 12 accused persons, with Junaid Ahmed still absconding.Efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend him.
