Lashkar Terrorist Extradited from Rwanda for Bengaluru Prisons Terror Conspiracy

New Delhi: Salman Rehman Khan, a member of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was extradited from Rwanda to India today by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Salman, who was involved in the Bengaluru Prisons Terror Conspiracy, had been implicated in radicalising inmates and supplying explosives to terror operatives.

Salman was arrested in Kigali, Rwanda, with the help of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), Interpol, and the National Central Bureau (NCB). He was transferred to India and taken into NIA custody on Thursday. This extradition marks the 17th such success for the NIA since 2020 in bringing terror fugitives back to India.

Salman, who was previously serving a sentence in Bengaluru Central Prison for a POCSO conviction, became radicalised after coming into contact with T Naseer, a convicted terrorist. Naseer reportedly masterminded the formation of a terror module within the prison, with Salman playing a key role in the procurement and distribution of arms and explosives. Salman fled India when the conspiracy was uncovered, evading authorities until his arrest in Rwanda.

The NIA’s investigation, which began in October 2023, led to charges under the UAPA, Arms Act, and Explosive Substances Act. A Red Notice issued by Interpol in August 2024 was instrumental in Salman’s arrest and extradition. This extradition is part of the NIA's ongoing efforts to bring international fugitives back to India.