NIA Files Charge Sheet Against Suspected Operative of Al-Qaeda In Indian Subcontinent

Abu Sufiyan has been charged under sections of the Explosives Substance Act, an official informed PTI.

NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet in the special court against Abu Sufiyan of West Bengal's Murshidabad. (File Photo)

New Delhi: National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a supplementary charge sheet in the special court against Abu Sufiyan of West Bengal's Murshidabad, an alleged operative of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), for furthering the activities of the banned terrorist organisation within the nation. He has been charged under sections of the Explosives Substance Act, an official informed PTI.

According to the NIA official, earlier last year in September, a case was registered against Murshid Hasan and various other members of the AQIS module who were active in Delhi, Kerala, and West Bengal. These were involved in the advanced stage of the conspiracy as they were planning the terror attacks in various parts of the country. 

Previously, under various sections of the IPC, the UA(P) Act and the Arms Act in February, NIA had filed cases against 11 accused including Sufiyan.

"Sufiyan was involved in the conspiracy with other co-accused for furthering the activities of AQIS in India. Earlier, during a search conducted at his premises in Murshidabad in 2020, various incriminating materials used for making bombs/IEDs were recovered," the NIA official said, PTI reported.

The official further said that Sufiyan had gathered technical knowledge for making explosives from the internet. With an intention of manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Sufiyan had purchased various raw materials and stored them in his house, the official adds.

However, further investigation of the case is underway.

(With inputs from PTI)