NIA Court sentences two Al-Qaeda members to 7 years jail

New Delhi [India], December 27 (ANI): The NIA Special Court, Bengaluru, on Wednesday convicted and sentenced two Al-Qaeda members to 7 years in jail.
"The duo, Akthar Hussain Laskar alias Md Hussain of Assam and Abdul Aleem Mondal alias Md Juba of West Bengal, have also been fined Rs 41,000 and Rs 51,000, respectively, by the NIA," as per an NIA press release.
NIA registered the case on August 30, 2022, under sections 153A, 153B, 120B, 121, 121A, 114 and 511 of the IPC and sections 10, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 20 of the UA (P) Act, 1967.
"The conviction of the two AQIS members marks a major success in the NIA's sustained efforts to identify the banned outfit's 'Handlers' and prosecute them," the release stated.
As per NIA investigations, the two convicted individuals had been radicalized and recruited by foreign-based online handlers of AQIS (Al Qaeda in Indian Sub-Continent) and were actively engaged in furthering the activities of the AQIS. Post-recruitment by AQIS, the men had joined various Telegram groups.
NIA investigations have further revealed that the men had conspired to undertake Hijra to the Khorasan Province of Afghanistan, where they also intended to undergo training.
"Further, the two men had planned to carry out Jihad against members of a particular community in India after undertaking training in Khorasan as part of the AQIS conspiracy to promote its anti-India agenda through acts of terror and violence," the release stated.
"They were also in the process of radicalising and recruiting other youth into the AQIS, besides motivating them to commit Hijra to Khorasan, Afghanistan," as per the release. (ANI)