NIA files charge sheet against five Bangladeshis held in Pune

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed Friday a charge sheet in a special court against five Bangladeshi nationals arrested in March for alleged illegal stay in India and providing help to members of a terror outfit.

On March 17 this year, the Pune unit of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested five Bangladeshis, who were allegedly living in Pune illegally.

They were suspected to have provided logistical and financial assistance to members of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), considered a 'front organisation' of the terror outfit Al Qaeda, the NIA said in its charge sheet filed before a special court in the city.

The accused -- Mohd Habibur Rahman Habib, Ripen Hussain, Hannan Anwar Khan, Mohd Hasanali Mohd Amirali and Azarali Islam -- were charged under Sections 120 (b) and 471 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy and forgery, respectively, the NIA said in a press statement.

They were also charged under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

After the arrest by the Pune ATS, the case was transferred to the central agency for further probe.