Lucknow/Delhi, April 14 (IANS) A court in Lucknow on Monday sentenced three terrorists linked to the Al-Qaeda-affiliated terror module Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) to life imprisonment for conspiring to carry out serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country.

Special Judge (NIA/ATS) Jitendra Kumar Pandey convicted and sentenced Minhaj Ahmad alias Minhaj, Musiruddin alias Musir alias Raju, and Tauheed Ahmad Shah alias Sobu Shah in the case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The court held the accused guilty under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Arms Act.

According to the prosecution, the convicts were part of an Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) module set up in Lucknow under the banner of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind at the direction of Pakistan/Afghanistan border-based handler Umar Helmandi.

The probe found that the terror module had planned to execute bomb blasts and fidayeen-style attacks at government buildings, sensitive installations, monuments, and crowded public places in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Lucknow, before August 15, 2021.

The NIA/ATS had recovered explosives, including a cooker bomb, arms, and other incriminating materials during the investigation.

The prosecution told the court that the accused had taken the oath of allegiance to the banned terror outfit, circulated radical and jihadi propaganda material online, and was engaged in recruiting and radicalising other persons for terror activities.

In its order, the court observed that the accused had conspired against the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India and had collected arms and explosives to carry out terrorist acts, warranting stringent punishment.

Musiruddin and Minhaj were awarded life imprisonment under Sections 121A and 122 of the IPC as well as under Section 20 of the UAPA, among other sentences under different provisions.

Tauheed Ahmad Shah was similarly sentenced to life imprisonment under Sections 121A and 122 IPC. All sentences will run concurrently, and the period already undergone in jail during trial will be set off against the sentence, the court ordered.

The probe was initially launched by the Uttar Pradesh ATS in July 2021 on intelligence inputs regarding the existence of an Al-Qaeda-inspired terror module operating from Lucknow and was later taken over by the NIA.

The anti-terror agency had filed charge sheets and supplementary charge sheets against the accused following an extensive probe involving witness testimonies, digital evidence, forensic reports, and recoveries made during searches.

–IANS

pds/dan