Recent developments indicate heightened vigilance within Karnataka's prison system, following a significant crackdown by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) targeting a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) radicalization racket operating from within the state's jails. The NIA's actions underscore the serious concerns surrounding the potential for prisons to become breeding grounds for extremist ideologies and terrorist activities.
On July 8, 2025, the NIA arrested three individuals, including a prison psychiatrist and a member of the police, after conducting searches in Bengaluru and Kolar districts in Karnataka. The arrested individuals are Dr. Nagaraj, a psychiatrist at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru; Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Chand Pasha; and Anees Fathima, the mother of an absconding accused.
The case, initially registered in 2023, involves the recovery of arms, ammunition, explosives, and digital devices, including walkie-talkies, from individuals conspiring to carry out terror activities in Bengaluru. The group aimed to further the agenda of the banned terrorist organization, LeT.
Investigations revealed a disturbing nexus between prison staff and inmates. Dr. Nagaraj allegedly smuggled mobile phones to prisoners, including Tadiyandaveed Naseer, also known as T. Naseer, a convicted terrorist serving a life sentence in the Bengaluru Central Prison. This activity was reportedly supported by another individual named Pavithra. Further investigation showed that ASI Chan Pasha had been involved in passing information related to T. Naseer's transport from prison to courts in exchange for money back in 2022. The NIA also searched the house of Anees Fathima, who was allegedly involved in passing instructions from Naseer to her son, Junaid Ahmed, an absconder, for raising funds and handing them over to Naseer in prison.
The NIA's investigation has led to the seizure of digital devices, cash, gold, and incriminating documents from the homes of the accused and other suspects. These seizures are crucial in understanding the scope and depth of the radicalization network. The agency has already filed charges against nine individuals, including Junaid Ahmed, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
This crackdown highlights the urgent need for stricter monitoring and preventive measures within the prison system. Prisons, intended to rehabilitate offenders, are susceptible to exploitation by extremist groups seeking to recruit and radicalize inmates. The involvement of a psychiatrist and a police officer raises serious questions about the integrity of the system and the potential for abuse of power. The incident serves as a wake-up call for prison authorities to implement stringent security protocols, enhance surveillance, and conduct regular audits to detect and prevent such activities. It also emphasizes the importance of training prison staff to identify and counter radical ideologies. The ongoing investigation and the pursuit of the absconding accused demonstrate the NIA's commitment to dismantling the LeT's network and preventing future acts of terror.
