The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at various locations in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation into the Ramalingam murder case.
Ramalingam, who had opposed the Dawah work of leaders of the Popular Front of India (PFI) allegedly involved in converting Hindus to Islam, was murdered in 2019.
In July last year, the NIA raided 21 locations, including the residences of five absconding proclaimed offenders (POs) and suspects in Tamil Nadu. In August 2019, the NIA filed a chargesheet against 18 individuals, including the five absconding accused persons, before the NIA Special Court in Chennai. The NIA Special Court subsequently declared these five absconding accused persons as proclaimed offenders.
Ramalingam was brutally murdered on February 5, 2019, in Paku Vinayakam Thoppu, Thanjavur, allegedly by members and office bearers of the PFI. The NIA had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakhs each for information leading to the arrest of any of the five absconders. The prosecution of others already arrested in the case is currently underway.
Earlier, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against 18 accused persons, including the five absconding accused, on August 2, 2019, before the NIA Special Court in Chennai. Raids in the districts of Thanjavur, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Villupuram, Trichy, Pudukottai, Coimbatore, and Mayiladuthurai led to the seizure of several digital devices (mobile phones, SIM cards, and memory cards) and documents, the NIA stated.
According to NIA investigations, the murder was carried out to instil fear among opponents of the outfit and to drive a wedge between communities by inciting communal hatred and violence. The PFI was declared an ‘unlawful association’ under the UAPA by the Government of India on September 28, 2022.
(With ANI inputs)
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