NIA court convicts second accused in Bengaluru Al-Hind ISIS case, 7 years imprisonment
Synopsis
An NIA Special Court in Bengaluru has handed down its second conviction in the Al-Hind ISIS conspiracy case — sentencing Syed Fasiur Rehaman to seven years in prison for helping plan targeted killings and jungle training camps aimed at establishing an ISIS province in southern India. With 18 accused still to face verdicts, the case is far from over.
Key Takeaways
NIA Special Court, Bengaluru convicted Syed Fasiur Rehaman in the Al-Hind ISIS conspiracy case , sentencing him to 7 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹48,000 .
This is the second conviction in the case; Haneef Khan was the first, convicted on 14 July 2026 after pleading guilty.
The NIA has filed 3 chargesheets against 20 accused , all of whom have been arrested; trial began in October 2025 .
The alleged conspiracy, masterminded by Mehaboob Pasha , targeted communal violence to establish an ISIS wilayah in southern India.
The NIA is still pursuing an online handler believed to have directed the module from outside India.
A Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bengaluru has convicted Syed Fasiur Rehaman, a key accused in the Al-Hind ISIS terror conspiracy case, sentencing him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹48,000. The verdict marks the second conviction in the case, which involves an alleged plot to establish an ISIS province in southern India.
Background of the Al-Hind ISIS Case
The case was originally registered by the Karnataka State Police on 10 January 2020 in Bengaluru, before the NIA took over and re-registered it on 23 January 2020 as RC-04/2020/NIA/DLI. To date, the NIA has filed three chargesheets against 20 accused, all of whom have been arrested. The trial commenced in October 2025.
First Conviction and Syed Fasiur Rehaman's Role
The first conviction in the case came on 14 July 2026, when accused Haneef Khan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to an identical term — seven years of rigorous imprisonment with a fine of ₹48,000. According to the NIA investigation, Khan was part of a reconnaissance team that surveyed the Shivanasamudra area in Chamarajanagar district and the Gundlupet region of Karnataka to identify deep forest locations for training camps and hideouts.
Syed Fasiur Rehaman, also identified as Syed Faseeh Ur Rehman, was found to have attended conspiracy meetings and to have procured tents and knives from a Decathlon Sports showroom for jungle-camp training of Al-Hind module members, according to NIA findings.
The Alleged Conspiracy
Investigators allege the plot was masterminded by Mehaboob Pasha, the prime accused, who reportedly convened multiple planning meetings at his residence in Gurappanapalya, Bengaluru. According to the NIA, the meetings centred on planning targeted killings to incite communal riots and advance the agenda of the proscribed ISIS terror outfit. The stated objective was to establish an ISIS or Daish wilayah (province) in the region.
Investigation Still Ongoing
The NIA has stated it is continuing efforts to trace an online handler who allegedly planned and coordinated the setting up of the Al-Hind module. With 18 of the 20 accused yet to face trial verdicts, further convictions are expected as proceedings continue.
Point of View
Externally directed terror cells did not disappear with the territorial collapse of ISIS. Two convictions down, 18 accused still to face verdicts — the NIA's ability to sustain prosecution momentum over a multi-year trial will be the real measure of this case. The still-untraced online handler is the more consequential thread: if that link leads abroad, it raises harder questions about cross-border digital radicalisation that a domestic conviction alone cannot answer.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Syed Fasiur Rehaman and what was he convicted for?
Syed Fasiur Rehaman, also known as Syed Faseeh Ur Rehman, is a key accused in the Al-Hind ISIS terror conspiracy case registered by the NIA in Bengaluru. He was convicted for participating in conspiracy meetings and procuring equipment — including tents and knives from a Decathlon Sports showroom — for jungle training camps of the Al-Hind ISIS module.
What is the Al-Hind ISIS case?
The Al-Hind ISIS case (RC-04/2020/NIA/DLI) involves an alleged conspiracy to establish an ISIS or Daish wilayah (province) in southern India. Originally registered by Karnataka Police on 10 January 2020, it was taken over by the NIA on 23 January 2020. The alleged plot included plans for targeted killings to incite communal riots.
Who was the first person convicted in this case?
Haneef Khan was the first accused convicted in the Al-Hind ISIS case, on 14 July 2026, after pleading guilty during trial. He was sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹48,000 — the same sentence as Syed Fasiur Rehaman.
Who is the prime accused and what is his alleged role?
Mehaboob Pasha is identified as the prime accused in the case. According to the NIA, he convened multiple planning meetings at his residence in Gurappanapalya, Bengaluru, where the group allegedly plotted targeted killings and the establishment of an ISIS province in the region.
How many accused are there and what is the current status of the trial?
The NIA has filed three chargesheets against 20 accused, all of whom have been arrested. The trial commenced in October 2025, and two convictions have been secured so far. The NIA is also attempting to trace an online handler believed to have coordinated the module.
