Man gets 10 years’ RI in Bengal Lashkar-e-Taiba recruitment module case

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Kolkata has sentenced Sayyad M Idris to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) recruitment and radicalisation module operating in West Bengal.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹70,000 on Idris, a resident of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, after convicting him under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

According to the NIA, the case pertains to a Pakistan-sponsored conspiracy aimed at recruiting and radicalising Muslim youths for the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is designated as a terrorist organisation in India.

The investigation revealed that the accused were engaged in spreading jihadi and secessionist propaganda, encouraging youths to wage ‘jihad’ against India and helping build a terror network in the region.

The case was initially registered by the West Bengal Police following the arrest of Tania Parvin, an alleged LeT operative, from Baduria in North 24 Parganas in March 2020. A large quantity of extremist literature and publications promoting jihad was recovered from her possession.

Given the seriousness of the allegations and the presence of cross-border terror links, the probe was transferred to the NIA in April 2020 , which subsequently arrested Idris and other accused.

The NIA court held that Idris played an active role in furthering the objectives of the terror organisation, posing a serious threat to national security and public order.

The trial against other accused persons is still underway, officials said.