In a breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has successfully extradited Salman Rehman Khan, a member of the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), from Rwanda.
Salman is accused of involvement in the Bengaluru Prisons Terror Conspiracy, including aiding radicalization efforts and facilitating the procurement of explosives for terror plots.
Salman was apprehended in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, on Wednesday with the cooperation of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Interpol, and National Central Bureaus (NCBs). He was extradited to India early Thursday and taken into NIA custody.
This marks the 17th extradition of a terror-related fugitive by the NIA since 2020.
Salman’s activities came under scrutiny during his imprisonment in Bengaluru Central Prison from 2018 to 2022, where he was serving a sentence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. During this time, he came into contact with T Naseer, a convicted terrorist serving a life sentence for earlier terror activities.
NIA investigations revealed that Naseer radicalized Salman and recruited him into a terror module operating within the prison. Salman reportedly played a key role in acquiring and distributing arms, ammunition, and explosives for terror operatives. He was also involved in planning Naseer’s escape during court appearances.
When authorities uncovered the conspiracy, Salman fled India to avoid capture.
The NIA took over the Bengaluru Prisons Terror Conspiracy case from Bengaluru City Police on October 25, 2022. Salman was declared a fugitive and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act. An Interpol Red Notice was issued for Salman on August 2, 2024. Acting on this notice, Rwandan authorities arrested him and informed Indian agencies, leading to a coordinated effort to secure his extradition.
The NIA’s efforts are part of a broader strategy to bring fugitives to justice. In 2024 alone, 26 individuals accused of crimes ranging from terrorism to sexual offenses have been extradited to India.