A charge sheet has been filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a special court here against five alleged operatives of global terrorist organization al-Qaeda in connection with a conspiracy to conduct blasts in Uttar Pradesh, an official revealed on Thursday.
A senior official of the premier investigation agency told the media that Museeruddin, Minhaj Ahmad, Shakeel, Mustaqeem, and Mohammad Moid, all residents of Lucknow, have been charged under various laws, including the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar police station lodged the first complaint in July last year, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) subsequently re-opened the case.
Apparently, Ahmad had been radicalized online by two al-Qaeda operatives based in Jammu and Kashmir, the official said. He and Museeruddin procured arms, ammunition, and explosive material as also conducted reconnaissance of vulnerable areas for carrying out blasts with an intention to wage war against the Indian government, the officials added.