NIA Court Delivers Life Sentences to Three in Al-Qaeda-Linked Terror Conspiracy
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Lucknow has delivered a landmark verdict, sentencing three key operatives of an Al-Qaeda-linked terror module to life imprisonment. The court found them guilty of conspiring to carry out coordinated attacks across Uttar Pradesh, with plans specifically targeting the state ahead of Independence Day in 2021.
Verdict and Convictions
Special judge Jainendra Kumar Pandey pronounced the verdict on Monday, imposing life imprisonment on all three convicts. The court also levied a fine of Rs 20,000 on each individual. Those sentenced are:
- Musiruddin alias Musir, 41, from Lucknow
- Minhaj Ahmed alias Minhaj, 31, from Lucknow
- Tauheed Ahmed Shah alias Sobu Shah, 19, from Kashmir
The court convicted them under Sections 121A (criminal conspiracy to wage war) and 122 IPC (collecting arms with intent to wage war), along with a life term under Section 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). In its observations, the court stated that the accused were part of a well-planned criminal conspiracy aimed at threatening the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the nation.
Investigation and Arrests
The case originated from intelligence inputs received by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Information indicated that a Pakistan-Afghanistan border-based Al-Qaeda handler, Umar Halmandi, was actively radicalising and recruiting individuals in India to build an AQ-IS module.
Acting on this intelligence, ATS teams conducted coordinated searches on July 11, 2021, at multiple locations in Lucknow, including the residences of Musiruddin and Minhaj. During these operations, authorities recovered explosive substances, IED-making materials, arms, ammunition, and other incriminating items. Musiruddin and Minhaj Ahmed were arrested the same day, and an FIR was registered at the ATS police station in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar under provisions of the IPC, UAPA, Explosive Substances Act, and Arms Act.
Tauheed was subsequently arrested from Budgam in Kashmir in February 2022. Due to the gravity of the case and its interstate as well as international terror links, the Ministry of Home Affairs transferred the investigation to the NIA on July 28, 2021. The NIA officially registered the case on July 29, 2021.
Terror Plot Details
Special public prosecutor for the NIA, MK Singh, revealed that investigations uncovered the accused, along with their associates, were part of a larger AQ-IS-linked module operating under Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Acting under instructions from foreign handlers, they were allegedly planning coordinated terror strikes across Uttar Pradesh, with a particular focus on Lucknow, ahead of Independence Day in 2021.
The planned targets included crowded public places, government installations, and other sensitive locations. Their strategy involved bomb blasts and possibly suicide attacks designed to cause maximum casualties and destabilise public order.
Singh argued that the accused had taken an oath to join the banned terror organisation and were actively involved in spreading extremist ideology and recruiting others. They were also found to be collecting funds and resources to support terror activities. The prosecution's case was strengthened by statements from co-accused and digital forensic evidence.
Trial and Evidence
During the trial, the prosecution examined over 40 witnesses and presented a comprehensive range of documentary and electronic evidence. This included FIRs, recovery memos, call detail records (CDRs), forensic science laboratory (FSL) reports, and chargesheets. The extensive evidence played a crucial role in securing the convictions and life sentences for the three terror operatives.
