NIA cracks prison-terror nexus: Bengaluru jail doctor, two others held for aiding LeT terrorist; explosives data recovered

BENGALURU: Three persons — including a psychiatrist from Bengaluru Central Prison and a City Armed Reserve (CAR) policeman — were arrested on Tuesday by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly supplying mobile phones and providing other logistical support to a terrorist jailed in connection with the 2023 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) prison radicalisation case.Searches at five locations in Bengaluru and Kolar culminated in the arrest of Dr Nagaraj, a psychiatrist at Parappana Agrahara prison, assistant sub inpector Chan Pasha and Anees Fathima, mother of absconding accused Junaid Ahmed. Officials seized digital devices, cash, gold, and incriminating documents during the searches.NIA has already chargesheeted nine accused, including absconding acused Junaid Ahmed, under various sections of IPC and UA(P) Act, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act.Investigations revealed that Dr Nagaraj was smuggling mobile phones into the prison for inmates, including terror convict Tadiyandaveed Naseer, with help from an aide named Pavithra. The agency also searched the house of Anees Fathima, who allegedly relayed instructions from Naseer to her son for fund collection and delivery.ASI Chan Pasha was found to have shared escort details of Naseer in 2022 in exchange for money. The case relates to the recovery of arms, ammunition, explosives, and digital devices, including two walkie-talkies, from habitual offenders conspiring to unleash terror activities in Bengaluru city with the aim of furthering the nefarious agenda of the banned terrorist organisation LeT.