New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recently filed charges against three additional individuals in connection with the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case, which is associated with the banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

In its second supplementary charge sheet, the agency identified Anees Fathima, Chan Pasha A, and Dr. Nagaraj S. under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Karnataka Prisons Act.

The NIA took charge of the investigation from local police in October 2023 and had previously filed charges against nine others, including fugitive Junaid Ahmed.

This case was initially lodged by the Bengaluru City Police in July 2023, following the seizure of weapons, ammunition, and digital devices from habitual offenders. Investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to instigate terror in Bengaluru, aiming to threaten India's sovereignty and security.

The activities linked to the LeT were part of a broader scheme to facilitate the escape of T. Naseer, a life convict involved in multiple terrorism cases, while he was being escorted from prison to court. At the time, Naseer was an undertrial prisoner in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blast incidents.

Among those charged on Friday, Anees Fathima is noted as the mother of the fugitive Junaid Ahmed. The NIA reports that she provided logistical aid and financial support to T. Naseer while he was incarcerated in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Bengaluru. She also allegedly handled weaponry and facilitated communications among the accused.

Investigations by the NIA uncovered her significant role in harboring the primary accused, Salman Khan, enabling him to flee to Dubai by arranging necessary travel documents. Salman Khan was later extradited back to India from Rwanda.

The second accused, Chan Pasha A., an Assistant Sub-Inspector with the City Armed Reserve of Bengaluru, reportedly accepted illegal payments from Salman Khan in return for sensitive information concerning T. Naseer's escort details. He had established contact with Naseer during his escort duties.

The third accused, Dr. Nagaraj S., a psychiatrist at the Central Prisons Hospital, was implicated in illegally smuggling mobile devices into the prison and selling them to inmates for cash. One of these devices was used by T. Naseer to coordinate with co-conspirators to further the terror plot.

The NIA stated that investigations are ongoing, and they are actively pursuing other fugitives related to this case, filed as RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI.