Three Sentenced in 2018 Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind Terror Conspiracy Case

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali has sentenced three men to rigorous imprisonment in connection with a 2018 terror conspiracy case linked to the banned outfit Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind , involving the recovery of weapons and explosive material from a hostel room in Punjab's Jalandhar.

Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) is a banned Al-Qaeda-linked militant group founded in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 by Zakir Musa after his split from Hizbul Mujahideen . The outfit promoted a jihadist ideology aligned with Al-Qaeda and was led by Musa until he was killed in 2019. Although significantly weakened by security operations, the group remains under the watch of Indian security agencies.

According to the NIA, the court sentenced Zahid Gulzar, Yasir Rafiq Bhat and Mohammad Idris Shah to prison terms ranging from five to 10 years under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act . Another accused, Suhail Ahmed Bhat , was acquitted.

The case originated in October 2018 when Punjab Police recovered an AK-56 rifle, magazines, live cartridges and explosive material during a search of a hostel room at the CT Institute in Shahpur, Jalandhar. The investigation was subsequently handed over to the NIA by the Centre.

The agency's probe found that the accused had allegedly conspired to further the activities of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and wage war against the Government of India . Investigators relied on documentary, electronic, forensic and oral evidence to establish the conspiracy.

Terror-related cases in India are typically investigated by specialised agencies such as the NIA under stringent laws including the UAPA . These investigations often involve forensic examination of digital devices, analysis of communication records, recovery of weapons and explosives, and witness testimonies . Such cases are prosecuted before designated special courts , which conduct trials under enhanced security and legal procedures designed to address offences related to terrorism and national security.

The prosecution examined 64 witnesses during the trial, culminating in the conviction of the three accused.