New Delhi: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has declared a reward of Rs 5 lakh each against two Popular Front of India (PFI) members- Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, 53, and Masud KA, 40, both residents of Kannada district in Karnataka for their alleged involvement in the murder of BJP's Yuva Morcha leader Praveen Nettaru.
The anti-terror agency that has already filed a chargesheet against the duo, has mentioned that those sharing information can contact on "info.blr.niauw gov.in" and "080-29510900, 8904241100" or postal address SP, National Investigation Agency, 8th floor, Sir M Visvesvaraiah Kendriya Bhawan, Domlur, Bengaluru-560071". NIA has made it clear that the identity of the informer will be kept secret.
The NIA that is investigating into the death of Nettaru, has already arrested 10 persons in this connection and has also declared a reward against four other absconding accused persons in this case. The investigation agency in their charge sheet mentioned that the duo were the main conspirators behind the murder of the district secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha.
Nettaru – a resident of Bellare was hacked to death outside his shop on July 26, 2022 to strike terror among the people of society. The case was initially registered at Bellare Police Station in Dakshina Kannada district on July 27 and re-registered by the NIA on August 4. According to the investigation agency three people had come in a vehicle on that night and the hacked 32-year-old BJP leader infront of his chicken shop at Bellare in Mangaluru.
Though initially it was thought to be a murder for gains but the police, during investigation, traced the role of PFI and recovered digital devices and incriminating documents from the houses of the accused and suspects following which the matter was handed over to NIA.
The MHA has said that the criminal activities and brutal murders have been carried out by the PFI cadres for the sole objective of" disturbing public peace and tranquillity and creating a reign of terror in the public mind". The MHA has also mentioned about "international linkages of PFI with Global Terrorist Groups' ', and that some of the activists of the outfit have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and participated in terror activities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The MHA even said that the PFI cadres were linked to international terror organisations like ISIS, Al-Quida and Jamat-ul-Muyahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
