The Lucknow Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday held two accused guilty of killing a retired School Principal in fulfillment and furtherance of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) agenda by spreading fear and terror among the people.
The NIA Special Court held the accused guilty under section the Indian Penal Code (IPC) relating to murder, criminal conspiracy and common intention besides the relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act, the NIA said in a statement.
The quantum of sentence against the accused, Atif Muzaffar and Md Faisal Khan, both residents of Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, will be pronounced on September 11.
The victim, Ram Babu Shukla, retired as Principal of Kanpur-based Swami Atmaprakash Brahmachari Junior High School in Kanpur, was killed on October 24, 2016 while he was returning home on a bicycle.
He was attacked by the accused near village Pyondi in Kanpur.
The anti-terror agency had filed a chargesheet against the two accused on July 12, 2018 after elaborate investigations, which revealed that the men had been radicalised by the ISIS ideology and were out to kill people whom they believed to be disbelievers (Qafirs).
A third accused, Mohammad Saifulla, had died in an exchange of fire with the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Uttar Pradesh on the night of March 7, 2017.
Investigations by NIA revealed that the accused were operating under the influence of ISIS, a proscribed terrorist organisation. They had conspired to carry out terrorist activities (Jihad) in India by targeting non-Muslims through violent acts.
“In furtherance of their conspiracy to promote the ISIS ideology and agenda, they murdered Shukla to strike terror and alarm in the minds of the common people,” the NIA said.
The case was initially registered as Case No. 884/2016 dated October 24, 2016 at Chakeri police station, Kanpur Nagar.
The NIA had taken over the case from the Uttar Pradesh police in November 2017 after registering the case.