Bengaluru: A special NIA court in Bengaluru Saturday sentenced Vikram Kumar aka Chota Usman to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-linked terror conspiracy. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on the 28-year-old convict, who was the ninth accused in the high-profile Bengaluru Central Prison radicalisation case. Seven other members of the module were sentenced to seven years of imprisonment in April.The conspiracy involved identification and recruitment of gullible inmates of Central Prison in Bengaluru for carrying out terror acts across India. The module was led by T Naseer, a life convict and alleged LeT operative linked to the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts.Vikram Kumar, originally from Begusarai, Bihar, was serving time for a 2017 murder case when he came into contact with Naseer. Under Naseer’s influence, Vikram was radicalised and later converted to Islam.After his release, Vikram collaborated with absconding handler Junaid Ahmed. In May 2023, acting on Junaid’s instructions, Vikram collected a parcel from Ambala, Haryana, containing hand grenades, walkie-talkies and ammunition.According to investigations, these weapons were intended to facilitate Naseer’s escape during a court transfer and to launch a “fidayeen” (suicide) attack in Bengaluru.National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe from the Bengaluru city police in Oct 2023.Vikram was arrested in Sept 2024 while already in custody for a separate plot investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell.In July 2025, Vikram Kumar and seven other co-accused, including Naseer, filed applications before the NIA court pleading guilty to the charges.MSID:: 130718359 413 |
