In connection with its ongoing probe into a Naxal case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted searches at eight locations in five districts of Uttar Pradesh. According to officials, the raids are being conducted in Varanasi, Prayagraj, Deoria, Azamgarh, and Chandauli districts.
The raids were carried out early on Tuesday "in connection with NIA Case No. RC- 01/2023/NIA/LKW revival of NRB of CPI (Maoist) case". Multiple NIA teams carried out searches simultaneously at all these eight locations which are the residential and office premises of the suspects.
Yet another blow to insurgents
This NIA operation, which was closely coordinated with the Uttar Pradesh Police, coincides with the coordinated operations initiated against the Maoists in all the states in the nation afflicted by Left Wing Extremism. It deals yet another blow to the insurgents.
NIA special court convicts 2 murdering retired principal
Earlier on September 4, a special NIA court in Lucknow found two people guilty of killing a retired school principal in Uttar Pradesh as part of a conspiracy by the proscribed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group. The crime was carried out seven years ago to spread fear and terror among the people.
The Special NIA Court held the accused guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act.
Ram Babu Shukla, the Kanpur-based retired Principal of Swami Atmaprakash Brahmchari Junior High School Kanpur, was killed on October 24, 2016, while he was returning home on a bicycle. He was attacked by the accused near Pyondi village in Kanpur.
Accused were radicalised by ISIS ideology
The quantum of sentence against the accused -- Atif Muzaffar and Mohd Faisal Khan of Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur Nagar -- will be pronounced on September 11, the federal agency said in a statement. According to the NIA, the accused were operating under the influence of the proscribed global terrorist group and had conspired to carry out terrorist activities by targeting non-Muslims through violent acts.
(With inputs from agencies)
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