Praveen Nettaru murder case: PFI office in Sullia seized by NIA

Team Udayavani, Mar 27, 2023, 2:33 PM IST

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday seized the Popular Front of India (PFI) office in Sullia town as part of their investigation into the murder of BJP Yuva Morcha member, Praveen Kumar Nettaru.

The sources claimed that the PFI office in Sullia had been utilized for conducting acts of terrorism, and was situated on the first level of Tahira complex on Aletti Road in Gandhinagar.

The copy of seizure has been sent to the owner of the property, District Commissioner, Superintendent of Police of Dakshina Kannada district. The order maintains that the property should not be leased or rented out. Directions have been given against shifting any property from the office or taking up renovation work.

Sources explained that the conspiracy to murder Praveen Kumar Nettaru was hatched in the office. Praveen was hacked to death by assailants in their third attempt.

The NIA sleuths had submitted a charge sheet against 20 persons with the Special NIA court in Bengaluru. The charge sheet contains 1,500 pages and statements of 240 witnesses.

NIA had earlier sealed the Mittur Freedom Community Hall in Idukki village near Bantwal town in connection with murder case in February.

Praveen was hacked to death at the height of the hijab and halal crisis in the state on July 26, 2022. The incident had taken place in Bellare near Sullia in Dakshina Kannada district.

The Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) had announced a ticket for Shafi Bellare, an accused in the Nettare murder to contest in the upcoming Assembly election in Karnataka. The development raised a debate in the state.

Shafi Bellare is presently lodged in prison in connection with the murder. He was arrested by the NIA and is currently in its custody.

(With inputs from IANS)