Bengaluru | May 3,2026 | SKY LINK TIMES
NIA Court Jails LeT Operative 7 Years:
A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sentenced a key operative of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the 2023 Bengaluru prison radicalisation case. The conviction marks another significant breakthrough in dismantling a terror conspiracy that was allegedly orchestrated from inside a high-security prison.
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Key Conviction in Expanding Terror Probe
The NIA court in Bengaluru sentenced Vikram Kumar, also known as Chota Usman, to seven years in prison along with a fine of Rs 30,000 under multiple legal provisions, including the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Explosive Substances Act.
Vikram Kumar is the eighth accused to be convicted in the case. The development follows the sentencing of seven other individuals last month, including the alleged mastermind T Naseer, a known Lashkar-e-Taiba operative.
Radicalisation Inside Prison
According to NIA investigations, the conspiracy was hatched inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. T Naseer, who was already lodged as an undertrial prisoner in connection with the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts, allegedly radicalised vulnerable inmates and recruited them into the banned terror group.
Vikram Kumar was reportedly radicalised and recruited by Naseer, along with co-accused Junaid Ahmed, while serving time in the same prison. Even after his release, he remained in contact with the terror network.
Arms Movement and Escape Plot
Investigators revealed that in May 2023, Vikram Kumar allegedly collected a consignment of hand grenades and walkie-talkies from a “dead drop” location in Ambala, Haryana. He later delivered these to a co-accused in Bengaluru, indicating a well-coordinated logistics network.
The NIA further uncovered that Vikram was part of a larger conspiracy to facilitate the escape of T Naseer during transit from prison to court. The escape plan was allegedly designed to strengthen LeT’s terror activities in India and pose a threat to national security.
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Wider Conspiracy Uncovered
The case was initially registered by the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch in July 2023 after authorities seized arms, ammunition, and digital devices from suspects planning terror attacks in the city. The NIA later took over the investigation, revealing a broader conspiracy involving multiple operatives.
So far, the agency has filed a chargesheet against 12 accused individuals. While several have been convicted, one key accused, Junaid Ahmed, remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to track him down.
Guilty Plea and Ongoing Crackdown
The accused in the case had pleaded guilty in July 2025 to charges including recruitment, training, and planning terror activities. The case highlights growing concerns about radicalisation within prison systems and underscores the NIA’s intensified efforts to counter internal security threats.
Authorities continue to monitor similar networks and have reiterated their commitment to dismantling terror ecosystems operating within and outside correctional facilities.
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