Lucknow: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Lucknow awarded five years imprisonment to Rakib Imam Ansari, 31, an operative linked to the banned terrorist organisation Islamic State (ISIS), in a terror conspiracy case.Special judge NIA Umakant Jindal convicted Ansari under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121A (conspiracy to wage war against the Govt of India) and 122 (collecting arms with intent to wage war) of the IPC, along with Sections 13, 18, 18B and 38 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.According to the prosecution, the ATS registered the case on Nov 3, 2023, following intelligence shared by ATS Mumbai during its investigation involving absconding ISIS operatives Shahnawaz and Rizwan Ali. Electronic and physical surveillance allegedly revealed that the two were active ISIS members who had established links with members of the Students of Aligarh Muslim University and other associates.The ATS alleged that Ansari and his co-conspirators were involved in propagating ISIS ideology, recruiting sympathisers, administering bayat (an oath of allegiance) to new recruits, disseminating extremist material and attempting to radicalise students.The prosecution examined 17 witnesses and relied on 121 documentary exhibits and 53 material exhibits to establish the charges.During the trial, Ansari, a native of Aligarh, submitted an application admitting his guilt, stating that he came from a poor family, was the sole earning member of his household and sought leniency. He assured the court that he would not commit such offences in the future. Following his voluntary confession, his case was separated from the trial of the remaining accused.The court also recorded Ansari’s statement under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, during which he voluntarily pleaded guilty and declined to produce any defence evidence.
