Page 3 - Nia

NIA court convicts two Coimbatore men for recruiting, propagating ISIS

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here on Saturday found two Coimbatore residents guilty of recruiting and propagating the ideology of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), police said. The Special Court for Trial of NIA Cases, Kochi convicted Muhammad Azharudeen (27) of Anbu Nagar, Ukkadam, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, and Shiek Hidayathulla alias Firoz Khan (35) of South Ukkadam. Judge N Seshadrinathan noted that both were guilty of offences punishable under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 120B (conspiracy), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) section 38 (membership of a terrorist organisation) and 39 (supporting a terrorist organisation), and convicted them accordingly. During the hearing on the sentence, both accused requested the court to take a lenient view, citing their family backgrounds. "Hidayathulla is remanded to Viyyur High Security Prison for two days halt. For pronouncing sentence, both accused to be produced on September 29 physically," the cour

Proxy wars, ISIS key threats, graft in security bodies must end: NIA chief

Proxy wars and the ISIS are major challenges for India, said National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Sadanand Date on Saturday, underscoring that corruption within institutions responsible for national security must end to tackle new hurdles. He was in Pune to attend an event where he gave a lecture on India's internal security and its challenges. While Naxalism, Khalistani elements and separatism remain internal challenges, proxy wars and the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) pose a major threat to the nation, said the director general of the country's premier anti-terror probe agency. First, some countries are trying to disrupt our progress through proxy wars, and the second is ISIS. If we want to withstand new challenges, we must strengthen democracy. If we want to respond effectively to challenges, corruption within institutions responsible for national security must also end, said the senior IPS officer. India faces many internal threats, including terroris

Terrorists struck Pahalgam's Baisaran due to high tourist footfall: NIA

Terrorists chose the picturesque Baisaran meadow as the target for the dastardly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam due to its high tourists presence and relative isolation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Thursday. "Three terrorists" were directly involved in the brutal terror attack in which 26 people were killed in cold blood on April 22, NIA officials said. The target was also chosen considering the "response time" from the security agencies, said a spokesman for the NIA, which is probing the case. The terrorists chose Baisaran as the target due to its "high tourist presence", "relative isolation" and after considering that the "response (from the security agencies) would take time", he said. In the targeted attack, terrorists killed male tourists milling around eateries, taking pony rides or just picnicking with their families, including young children and parents, in the meadow near Pahalgam touted as 'Mini Switzerland' for its serene beauty. The NIA in J

Delhi HC seeks Yasin Malik's response on NIA appeal for death penalty

Yasin Malik, chief of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, is serving a life term after being convicted in May 2022 under sections of the UAPA and the IPC in a terror funding case

NIA files chargesheet against five Maoist operatives in Chhattisgarh

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted five Maoist operatives in connection with the February 2024 Chhattisgarh arms recovery case, an official statement issued on Saturday said. The chargesheeted accused -- Anish Khan alias Annu Khan, Anil Kumar Netam, Jaysing Hidko, Raghvueer Jain and Shailendra Kumar Baghel alias Golu -- have been identified as Over Ground Workers (OGWs), including one supplier, for the banned terror organisation CPI (Maoist), it said. All of them were active cadres of the Kuyemari Area Committee of the terror outfit, said the statement issued by the NIA. The NIA in its supplementary charge sheet filed before the special court in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, has charged them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Explosives Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, it said. The counter-terror agency had earlier in August 2024 chargesheeted two armed cadres -- Vinod Awalam and Ashu Korsa -- of the CPI (Maoist). The NIA

Malegaon blast: NIA can charge absconders after arrest, says trial court

A special NIA court, which has acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon case, has said the federal probe agency was at liberty to file a separate charge-sheet against the absconding accused Ramji Kalsangra and Sandeep Dange on their arrest. In its over 1000-page judgment, special judge A K Lahoti highlighted the probe by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad and the NIA which alleged that the absconding accused had assembled the bomb. The investigating officer of the NIA also found involvement of Ramji alias Ramchandra Kalsangra and Sandeep Dange in the present crime but their whereabouts were not known and they continue as absconding accused in the supplementary charge-sheet filed by NIA. While the ATS claimed that Kalsangra was the one who planted the explosive-laden motorbike at the spot in Malegaon, NIA had said Kalsangra and Dange were in possession of the bike for more than a year prior to the blast. The court noted that as per ATS, the RDX was fitted in the bike in th

NIA attaches properties of Pak-based Dawood gang's operative in Gujarat

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached two immovable properties belonging to an aide of Pakistan-based fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim in connection with 2015 double murder case in Gujarat's Bharuch, officials on Friday said. The properties of the arrested accused, Mohammad Yunus alias Manjro, have been attached under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on the orders of NIA special court, Ahmedabad, in the case, they said. "The attached properties include his residential house in ward no 3, city survey no 3614, Bharuch City (Total area: 143.96 sq. mt.) and ward no 3, city survey no 3615, Bharuch City (Total area: 29.59 sq. mt.)," said a statement issued by the probe agency. Manjro was arrested for his role in the criminal conspiracy and murder of the BJP workers -- Shirish Bengali and Pragnesh Mistry -- in November 2015, it said. "These attachments by the NIA are a very important step towards dismantling the terror ecosystem of D-company gang operating from ...

Explained: Why NIA court acquitted all 7 in 2008 Malegaon blast case

A special NIA court acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, citing lack of evidence and probe lapses; the blast killed six and injured over 100 near a mosque during Ramzan

Delhi HC seeks NIA's response on Abdul Rashid's plea in terror funding case

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought a response from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea by jailed Lok Sabha MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid seeking interim bail to attend the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament. Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid and in jail in a 2017 terror funding case, has also challenged a trial court order asking him to bear travel expenses of Rs 1.44 lakh per day for attending Parliament in custody from July 24 to August 4. A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Shalinder Kaur issued notice to the NIA on the plea and listed the matter for further hearing on July 29. The court is also scheduled to hear on July 29 Rashid's regular bail plea in the case. The Baramulla MP has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 after he was arrested by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case. During the brief hearing, Rashid's counsel submitted that the MP has already been saddled with Rs 17 lakh cost to represent the public at large

SC raps govt over NIA trial delays, says bail likely without special courts

Supreme Court gives Centre, Maharashtra four weeks to respond on setting up exclusive NIA courts; says failure to act may lead to bail being granted in delayed terror-related trials

NIA charges five in Mizoram for supplying arms to Bangladeshi militants

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday chargesheeted five accused in a Mizoram case related to seizure of a huge cache of prohibited arms and ammunition meant for supply to a Bangladeshi militant group. The accused -- Lalbiakchunga alias Divid alias David, Lalthawmcheuva alias Thawma, Malsawma alias Malsawma Loncheu, Rualliansanga alias Sanga and Alok Bikash Chakma -- have been named in a chargesheet filed before a court in Aizawl. They have been charged under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Arms Act, 1959 and the Foreigners Act, 1946, the NIA said in a statement. The case was originally registered on January 15, 2025 by Mizoram Police. The NIA, which took over and re-registered the case two months later, unravelled a criminal conspiracy by the accused to supply the prohibited weapons and ammunition to armed cadres of the UPDF (United Peoples Democratic Front) militant outfit based in Chittagong area

Khalistani terror network probe: NIA raids 15 sites in Punjab, Haryana

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday searched multiple locations linked with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror organisation in Punjab and Haryana. A total of 15 locations were searched in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Pathankot, Kapurthala, Rupnagar districts of Punjab and Sirsa in Haryana in connection with the January 2025 grenade attack at a police post in Amritsar district of Punjab, the NIA said in a statement. A host of incriminating materials, including mobiles/digital devices and documents, were seized during the searches, and are being examined for further clues to the terror syndicate of BKI, it said. "BKI has been engaged in a criminal conspiracy to recruit and train India-based associates, and to provide funds, weapons and explosives to the field operatives of the terror outfit through their associates and acquaintances based abroad, including in Pakistan. The conspiracy is aimed at carrying out large-scale terror acts on Indian soil," the ..

NIA questions Kolkata travel agency owner in Pakistan espionage probe

Sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday questioned the owner of a Kolkata-based travel agency in connection with a Pakistan espionage case, an official said. Mohammed Masood Alam, owner of the travel agency, was questioned by the NIA about some suspicious money transactions made through his office on three occasions, he said. The central agency on Saturday conducted searches at the travel agency's office in Kidderpore area, apart from a hotel in Park Circus and a shop in the Alipore area of the city. "He was questioned regarding the three transactions made through his agency, especially the one made on April 3, 2024. His statements were recorded," he added. The NIA sleuths conducted the searches in connection with the arrest of CRPF personnel Moti Ram Jat in Delhi for his alleged links in leaking of classified information to Pakistani intelligence operatives in lieu of money, he said. "These raids were linked to the espionage case. We had seized a few document

NIA raids 15 sites in 8 states after CRPF trooper held in spy case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted a massive search operation at 15 locations in eight states across the country in a Pakistan-linked espionage case. The searches followed arrest of now-suspended trooper of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for spying for Pakistan, officials said. Saturday's searches were conducted at the premises of suspects linked with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) in Delhi, Maharashtra (Mumbai), Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam and West Bengal, they said. NIA teams have seized several electronic gadgets and sensitive financial documents, along with other incriminating materials, during the searches, the officials said. These are being extensively examined for clues to the espionage racket being run by Pakistan-based operatives as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy, a statement issued by the NIA said. As per NIA investigations, the suspects targeted in today's searches had connections with Pakista

India records over 1000 covid cases, NIA arrests CRPF personnel, Israeli strikes kill 52 in Gaza

India on Monday reported 1,009 active Covid-19 cases, including 752 new infections. According to the government data, Kerala leads with 430 active cases, followed by Delhi with 104.

Neemrana hotel attack: NIA raids multiple locations in Arsh Dalla case

According to NIA, the two attackers were subsequently identified as members of the Bambiah gang, having connections with Dalla's terrorist-gangster network

26/11 terror attack: NIA obtains Tahawwur Rana's voice, handwriting samples

The National Investigation Agency on Saturday collected the voice and handwriting samples of Tahawwur Rana, the alleged mastermind behind the Mumbai terror attack, before a Delhi court. Rana was brought under tight security before Judicial Magistrate First Class Vaibhav Kumar, before whom the NIA recorded his handwriting specimens in an in-chamber proceeding. Rana wrote various alphabets and numerical characters, the source said. Legal aid counsel Piyush Sachdev, who represented Rana, said that he "fully complied with a recent court order directing him to submit samples of his voice and handwriting". The court recently allowed the NIA to collect the voice and handwriting samples of Rana. Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh, who on April 28 extended Rana's custody for 12 days, passed the order on April 30 on an application moved by the NIA. Rana, a close associate of 26/11 attack main conspirator David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen, was brought to India after th

26/11 Mumbai attack: Tahawwur Rana may spill beans on LeT, NIA tells court

The National Investigation Agency has informed a Delhi court that Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana could spill the beans on Lashkar-e-Toiba and its future terror plans. The agency's argument came on April 28 while seeking Rana's custody before special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh. According to sources, the NIA said, "Hafiz Saeed is an accused in the case and his terror organisation is still involved in terror attacks in India. Rana's custody is required to unearth the operational details of the organisation." The agency said it was interrogating Rana in a "measured" manner considering his health as opposed to his claims of being questioned 20 hours a day. The NIA sought his custody claiming non-cooperation from Rana. "There is contention of non-cooperation of accused in investigation, coupled with the fact of the extent, gamut, depth and widespread nature of the present case which has allegation of hatching the conspiracy at a global level in the sense of accused been fro

26/11 Mumbai attacks: Court extends Tahawwur Rana's custody for 12 days

Rana was brought to the Patiala House Court in Delhi on Monday amid tight security

Pahalgam terror attack: NIA takes over probe, question eyewitnesses

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, officials said on Sunday. The teams, overseen by an Inspector General of Police, a Deputy Inspector General of Police and a Superintendent of Police from the anti-terror agency, are examining the eyewitnesses to the attack that took place on Tuesday at Baisaran valley in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, they said. The eyewitnesses are being questioned in minute detail to piece together the sequence of events that led to one of the worst terror attacks in Kashmir, they said. The entry and exit points are being closely scrutinised by the investigating NIA teams for clues to the modus operandi of the terrorists, the officials said. The teams, aided by forensic and other experts, are checking the entire area thoroughly for evidence to expose the terror conspiracy that led to the horrendous attack that has shocked the nation, they said. NIA teams, which have been