The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday raided multiple locations across Bengaluru in a case relating to the radicalisation of prisoners by a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist.

A total of six locations, including the houses of four accused, one of whom is still absconding, were extensively searched as part of NIA’s continuing investigations into the case.

The other locations that were searched were premises connected with two other suspects.

The NIA teams seized a host of digital devices, various incriminating documents, and cash amounting 7.3 lakhs during the raids, conducted at the premises of Mohammed Umar, Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, Tanveer Ahmed and Mohammed Farooq, as well as absconder Junaid Ahmed.

Three accused are currently absconding in the case, registered under various sections of IPC, UA(P) Act, 1967 and Explosive Substances Act, 1884.

The Bengaluru City Police had originally registered the case following seizure of arms and ammunition, including 7 Pistols, 04 hand grenades, one magazine and 45 live rounds, along with 4 walkie-talkies.

Five persons were initially arrested and their interrogation had led to the arrest of one more, taking the total arrests so far in the case to six.

NIA had taken over the custody of all the six arrested accused on taking over the case on 25 October 2023.

Investigations by the NIA had revealed that Mohammed Umar, Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, Tanveer Ahmed, Mohammed Farooq and Junaid Ahmed had come in contact with LeT member and life convict, T Naseer, during their imprisonment at Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, Bengaluru.

It was further found that Nazeer had radicalised and recruited these individuals to commit violent terror acts.

After their release from the Central Prison, these five accused, all of them habitual offenders, had conspired to commit terror acts under the leadership of Junaid Ahmed and on directions from Naseer.

Junaid, who was absconding after being accused in a case relating to smuggling of red sandal wood in 2021, was in regular touch with the other accused through encrypted communication platforms. He had also provided funding to the others for collecting arms and ammunition and kept them in their safe custody.

(With UNI inputs)