NIA searches in J&K, 5 states in Qaida case

The National Investigation Agency on Monday conducted simultaneous searches at nine locations across the country in connection with activities promoted by some Bangladeshi nationals as part of terror group Al-Qaida’s conspiracy to destabilise India.

Officials said the crackdown, which was linked to individuals suspected of supporting and funding Al-Qaida, was conducted in Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura and Assam.

The searches led to the recovery of incriminating documents showing banking transactions, digital devices and other evidence related to terror funding activities.

The case followed the initial arrest of three persons and was related to a 2023 conspiracy to spread Al-Qaida network and radicalise gullible youths in India. In November 2023, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against five accused, including four Bangladeshi nationals, identified as Mohammad Sojibmiyan, Munna Khalid Ansari, alias Munna Khan; Azarul Islam, alias Jahangir, alias Aakash Khan; and Abdul Latif, alias Mominul Ansari. The fifth accused, Farid, is an Indian.

The NIA investigations had revealed that the accused had procured forged documents to carry out their activities covertly.