The Nationwide Investigation Company (NIA) on Friday arrested a key accused within the homicide of Praveen Nettaru, a Karnataka BJP Yuva Morcha chief, upon his arrival at Kerala’s Kannur Worldwide Airport from Qatar.
The arrested, recognized as Abdul Rahaman, had been absconding for the previous two years after Nettaru was hacked to demise with sharp weapons by members of the Common Entrance of India (PFI), a proscribed outfit, on July 26, 2022, within the Dakshina Kannada district.
Investigations had revealed that Abdul Rahaman had, on the instructions of PFI management, voluntarily harboured the primary assailants and others concerned within the case. Rahaman, who carried a reward of Rs 4 lakh, had fled to Qatar after the attackers had been arrested.
After Rahaman’s arrest, NIA stated on Friday, “The killing was half of a bigger conspiracy aimed toward placing terror among the many folks and unleashing communal hatred and unrest within the society.”
The NIA, in April, chargedheeted 4 accused, together with Rahaman, within the homicide case, taking the full variety of charge-sheeted folks to twenty-eight.
Six accused within the case had gone into hiding, prompting the Central company to declare rewards to these offering data on the absconders.
In January, NIA introduced the arrest of Ateeq Ahmed, a key accused within the case. In accordance with the company, Ahmed had below the PFI management’s steering harboured and assisted Mustafa Paichar, recognized because the chief conspirator within the case.
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Ahmed is the twenty first accused to be arrested within the case. Paichar had deliberate and executed Nettaru’s homicide at Bellare, which was carried out as a part of PFI’s agenda to instigate communal unrest amongst folks, stated the NIA that took over the case from Karnataka Police in August 2022.
Investigations revealed that PFI had fashioned secret groups referred to as ‘PFI Service Groups’ or ‘Killer Squads’ to hold out focused killings, the company said in its preliminary chargesheet.