Chennai, 20 August (H.S.) : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted raids at nine places in Tamil Nadu as part of its ongoing investigation into the 2019 murder of Ramalingam, a Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) functionary. Ramalingam was killed on February 5, 2019, in Thanjavur district for opposing the Dawah work of leaders of the Popular Front of India (PFI), allegedly involved in converting Hindus into Islam.
The NIA had re-registered the case on March 7, 2019, and took over the investigation. According to sources, the agency carried out searches at 21 locations in nine districts of Tamil Nadu, including Thanjavur, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Villupuram, Trichy, Pudukottai, Coimbatore, and Mayiladuthurai. The raids were aimed at gathering evidence and apprehending absconding suspects linked to the banned PFI outfit.
The NIA had earlier filed a charge sheet against 18 accused persons on August 2, 2019, and announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to the arrest of five absconders declared Proclaimed Offenders (POs). Rahman Sadiq, a key conspirator and administrator of Dawah's work of PFI in Thanjavur district, was arrested by the NIA on August 2, 2021.
The agency continues to investigate the case, focusing on dismantling any organizational structures that might have facilitated the crime.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
