A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has convicted two more individuals in the Lucknow Al-Qaeda terror conspiracy case, marking another major development in the three-year-long investigation. The agency confirmed the convictions in an official statement on Friday.
The court found Mohammad Mustaqueem and Shakeel, both residents of Lucknow, guilty under Section 25(1B)(a) of the Arms Act and Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (criminal conspiracy). They were sentenced to 20 months imprisonment and fined Rs 5,000 each.
Case traces back to 2021 ATS crackdown
The case originates from July 2021, when the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) busted a terror module linked to Al-Qaeda’s Indian subcontinent wing (AQIS). The operation led to the arrest of two suspected terrorists from the Kakori area of Lucknow.
According to investigators, an Al-Qaeda handler based near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, identified as Umar Halmandi, had been attempting to radicalise and recruit Indian youths. He allegedly targeted marginalised individuals in Lucknow to expand the outfit’s presence in Uttar Pradesh.
NIA probe uncovered wider network
The NIA took over the probe from the ATS and filed a chargesheet against five accused on January 5, 2022, followed by a supplementary chargesheet in August 2022.
The main accused — Minhaz Ahmed and Masiruddin alias Mushir — were alleged to be acting on Halmandi’s instructions to execute attacks in multiple cities across Uttar Pradesh before August 15, 2021. As per investigators, Shakeel and Mustaqueem played a key role in helping the duo procure weapons and ammunition.
Further updates on the case are expected as proceedings continue against the remaining accused.
