Sirsi Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Recruiting Youth into Terror Outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba

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Sirsi : A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Kolkata has sentenced Sayyid Idrees, a resident of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district, to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in recruiting youth for the banned terror organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The court also imposed a fine of 70,000 rupees after finding him guilty of inciting terrorism and engaging in anti-national activities. The case, which was initially registered by the West Bengal Police in April 2020, was later handed over to the NIA due to its gravity and inter-state implications. Following a thorough investigation, the NIA arrested Idrees on November 11, 2020, under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Sayyid Idrees, a school dropout who had left his education in the 9th grade, resided on Banavasi Road in Sirsi and was outwardly employed as a construction worker (mason). However, the NIA’s investigation revealed that he was secretly operating as a “sleeper cell” for the LeT. He was allegedly part of a conspiracy involving individuals like Altal Al-Rathar from Jammu and Kashmir and Tania Parveen. Together, they formed a network focused on identifying and recruiting impressionable youth into the terror outfit, maintaining direct links with handlers based in Pakistan.

The investigation further disclosed that Idrees and his associates utilized various social media platforms to radicalize young individuals. They reportedly circulated provocative content to incite them to wage “Jihad” against the Government of India. The NIA had filed a detailed charge sheet in 2021, documenting the digital footprints and communication logs that connected the accused to foreign terror operatives. Based on these substantial evidence, the special court concluded that Idrees played a pivotal role in strengthening the terror network’s recruitment base within the country.

This sentencing is seen as a major success for the NIA in its crackdown on domestic terror recruitment modules. The authorities emphasized that the conviction of a sleeper cell operative from a relatively quiet town like Sirsi highlights the widespread reach of extremist ideologies through digital mediums. The court’s decision serves as a stern warning to those involved in promoting secessionist agendas and terror-related activities, reaffirming the judicial system’s commitment to national security.