“Surrender in 30 days or….”: NIA to absconding accused in Praveen Nettaru Murder Case

Team Udayavani, Jun 29, 2023, 11:05 AM IST

Sullia: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has ramped up its efforts in the search for the absconding accused in the murder case of Praveen Nettaru, a prominent youth leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In a recent development, the NIA has ordered that if the accused do not surrender within 30 days, their houses and properties will be confiscated. To ensure the message reaches the accused, the officials took to the streets of Sullia on Wednesday, making a public announcement through a loudspeaker.

Alongside the confiscation order, the NIA has also announced a cash reward for individuals who provide information leading to the arrest of the accused. While Umar Farooq and Mustafa are among the accused still in hiding

NIA officers have taken proactive steps by visiting the residences of the accused and pasting copies of the court order on the walls, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. The aim is to urge the accused to come forward and face the charges against them.

Yesterday, the NIA conducted extensive searches at the homes of three other absconding suspects involved in the case. The searches took place at the residences of Abdul Nasir, Abdul Rahman of Kodagu, and car driver Naushad of Padangadi in Beltangady taluk. During the searches, the NIA seized several electronic gadgets and documents, indicating the potential involvement of these individuals in aiding the fugitives’ hideouts across various parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

While these three suspects are now under the scanner, the NIA is also pursuing leads on five more absconding individuals connected to the case. The NIA had previously filed a charge sheet against 21 people, including the absconders, in August 2022. The charges levied against the accused range from various sections of the UA(P) Act, IPC, and Arms Act, as stated in a press release issued by the NIA.

Praveen Nettaru’s murder, which took place on July 26, 2022, in Bellare village of Sullia Taluk, Dakshina Kannada District, was carried out by PFI “Killer Squads” or “Service Teams.” The Popular Front of India (PFI), a banned organization, is known to orchestrate targeted “hate killings” with the objective of fueling communalism and spreading communal hatred. Their ultimate aim is to establish an Islamic regime in India by 2047.