New Delhi [India], March 5 (HBTV): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday carried out search operations at 17 places across seven states in connection with its ongoing investigations into the Bengaluru prison radicalization case. 

The raids are underway in Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu, among other states, since this morning, and the places are linked to suspects involved in a terror conspiracy connected to the case.  

On January 12 this year, the NIA charge-sheeted eight persons including a life convict and two absconders in the Bengaluru Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) prison radicalization and 'fidayeen' (suicide) attack conspiracy case. 

Among the accused is T Naseer of Kerala's Kannur district, who has been serving a life sentence at the Central Prison in Bengaluru since 2013. Others Junaid Ahmed alias JD and Salman Khan are suspected to have fled abroad.                   

The others have been identified as one Syed Suhail Khan alias Suhail; a Mohammed Umar alias Umar; one Zahid Tabrez alias Zahid; a Syed Mudassir Pasha, and one Mohammed Faisal Rabbani alias Sadath.

All the eight persons have been charge-sheeted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosives Substances Act and the Arms Act. 

The case was originally registered by the Bengaluru City Police on July 18, 2023 following the seizure of arms, ammunition, hand grenades, and walkie-talkies from the possession of seven of the persons.       

The items were seized while the seven men were gathered in the house of one of the accused persons. 

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.