NIA Court Sentences Syed Fasiur Rehaman to 7 Years in Bengaluru Al-Hind Case

A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has sentenced Syed Fasiur Rehaman to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with the Bengaluru Al-Hind ISIS terror conspiracy case, which involved planning meetings organized in Bengaluru's Gurappanapalya locality.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 48,000 on Rehaman, who is also known as Syed Faseeh Ur Rehman. The NIA confirmed the conviction and sentencing on Sunday, stating that the operative was actively involved in terror conspiracy plans linked to the proscribed Islamic State.

According to the NIA, Rehaman participated in conspiracy meetings and procured logistics, including tents and knives from a Decathlon Sports showroom, for the jungle-camp training of Al-Hind group members. The agency said the broader conspiracy aimed to establish an ISIS or Daesh "wilayah", or province, through targeted killings intended to incite communal unrest.

The case was originally registered by the Karnataka Police in Bengaluru on January 10, 2020. Following directions from the Centre, the NIA took over the investigation and re-registered the case on January 23, 2020. The agency has so far submitted three chargesheets naming 20 accused individuals.

Investigators established that prime accused Mehaboob Pasha masterminded the conspiracy by hosting several coordination meetings at his residence in Gurappanapalya. Another accused in the case, Haneef Khan, was previously convicted after pleading guilty during the trial. The NIA added that it is continuing efforts to trace an online handler who allegedly planned and established the module.