NEW DELHI, April 14, 2026 : In a major crackdown on terrorism, a special court of the National Investigation Agency has sentenced three individuals for their involvement in an Al-Qaeda-linked conspiracy to carry out attacks in Uttar Pradesh.
The convicted individuals—Museeruddin alias Raju, Minhaj Ahmad, both from Lucknow, and Tawheed Ahmad Shah from Budgam—were awarded sentences ranging from five years of rigorous imprisonment to life imprisonment, along with fines of up to ₹20,000.
According to officials, the case was initially registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in 2021 following the arrest of the accused, who were found linked to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent. Investigations revealed that they were involved in radicalising and recruiting youth for Ansaar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a module associated with AQIS.
The conspiracy aimed to carry out terror attacks in multiple cities across Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, ahead of the Independence Day celebrations in 2021.
Further probe by the NIA uncovered that the accused had procured arms, ammunition, and explosives with the intent to wage war against the Government of India. Three other accused in the case had earlier pleaded guilty under the Arms Act.
During the investigation, another accused Adil Nabi Teli alias Musa—linked to The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba—was found to be part of the conspiracy. He was later killed in an encounter in 2022.
The NIA had filed chargesheets in 2022 against all accused, establishing a network of radicalisation, recruitment, and terror planning.
The verdict marks a significant step in India’s ongoing efforts to dismantle terror networks and prevent extremist activities across the country.
