The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has successfully obtained the conviction and sentencing of two members of the proscribed Bangladeshi terror group, Ansar-al-Islam, for plotting terrorist attacks in India.
Identified as Bangladeshi nationals Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Hassan and Mohamad Sayad Hussain alias Mohamad Sa’ad Hussain alias Sohan Molla alias Shihab Hossain, the NIA Special Court in Aizawl (Mizoram) has sentenced them to five years’ of imprisonment. They were also fined Rs 10,000 each or one month’s imprisonment in default, after being found guilty under various sections of the IPC, Foreigners Act, and UA(P) Act.
The accused had illegally entered India and were residing in various places using forged Indian identity documents, including Aadhar cards. They were charged on January 23, 2020, after an investigation by the NIA, which took over the case in September 2019.
NIA investigations under case RC-11/2019/NIA-GUW revealed that they had assisted in a conspiracy by Ansar-al-Islam, claiming to be the Bangladesh wing of Al-Qaeda, to carry out terrorist acts.
The central probe agency uncovered their roles in the conspiracy through the analysis of digital documents, including incriminating audio recordings, inspirational speeches promoting Jihad, and images containing handwritten bomb-making details, among other seized items. A total of 11 mobile phones and 16 SIM cards were confiscated from the defendants.
Mahmud Hassan, brought into the conspiracy by Abdul Wadud, operated under the guidance of his handler Munir. Photos of significant public and religious locations in Bengaluru found on his mobile phone indicated that he had conducted reconnaissance of these sites.
Mohamad Sayad Hussain frequently changed locations on instructions from his handler Bashir Ahmed, and disguised his occupation to conceal his identity and evade detection by law enforcement and security personnel, according to NIA investigations.
