Kochi: The NIA special court here today framed charges against alleged LeT activist T Nazeer, also an accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blast case and 17 other accused in the `Kashmir Recruitment` case relating to enrolment of several youth from Kerala for anti-national activities.
National Investigation Agency special court judge S Vijaykumar read out the charges before posting the case to February 18 to decide on which date the trial should commence. The accused have been charged with indulging in anti-national activities, waging war against the nation, possession of weapons and acts of sabotage.
There are a total of 24 accused in the case, including four Keralites killed in Kashmir. The youths recruited in 2006, according to the charge sheet, were given arms training to wage war against India. Wali, said to be a Pakistani national and one the main links between LeT and the Keralites, is absconding with another accused while four youths-- Fayas, Mohammed Yasin, Abdul Rahim and Fayis, recruited from northern districts of Kerala died in encounters with security forces in 2008.
There are about 400 witnesses in the case, most of them from Delhi and Kashmir.
Security was tight in the court premises as Nazeer and Shafas, along with other accused, were present.
PTI