New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary charge-sheet against two more accused in a case related to the murder of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru by cadres of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Karnataka last year.
One of the two accused named in the chargesheet filed on Wednesday, was identified as Thufail MH, who had been absconding before he was tracked down and arrested by a NIA team in Bengaluru. Both the accused, including Thufail MH and Mahammad Jabir, have been charged under various sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. With this, 21 accused persons have been charge-sheeted in the case.
NIA investigations revealed that Thufail, a resident of Kodagu district, was in-charge of the PFI ‘Service Teams’ in Kodagu District. He is also a ‘PFI Master Trainer’ who would regularly impart advanced training, including arms training to the banned outfit’s cadres at the Freedom Community Hall, in neighbouring DK district.
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“He had harboured the three assailants of Praveen Nettaru in Kodagu and Mysuru districts of Karnataka and in Erode district of Tamil Nadu,” the NIA said. The murder, which took place on July 26, 2022 at Bellare village of Sullia Taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, had sent shock waves in the state. It is believed that Nettaru was killed with sharp weapons as part of PFI’s agenda to strike terror among members of another community, and create communal hatred and unrest in the society. A source in the higher echelon of defence establishment said seized literatures revealed PFI's plot to establish Islamic rule in India by 2047.
The initial charge sheet was filed by NIA on January 20, 2023. The NIA had then stated that the PFI had formed secret ‘hit squads’ – ‘service teams’ or ‘killer squads’ to carry out the killing of its ‘perceived enemies’ and targets.’ The accused Mahammad Jabir was the PFI Puttur District president and had actively participated in the conspiracy meeting where it was decided to recce and murder Praveen Nettaru.
