New Delhi, 06 August (H.S.): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another absconding accused in the 2022 murder of Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Praveen Nettaru. With the latest arrest, the total number of accused apprehended in the high-profile murder case has risen to 25.

The NIA said on Thursday that the absconding accused, Umar Farooq M.R., was arrested from Kochi, Kerala, during a special operation conducted on the basis of credible intelligence inputs. A Red Corner Notice had been issued against him, and a non-bailable warrant had also been obtained from the court. The agency had announced a reward of Rs 4 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

According to the NIA, a chargesheet had already been filed against Umar Farooq under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The investigation revealed that he had attended a conspiracy meeting at the office of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in Sullia town along with other accused persons.

The agency further stated that Umar Farooq had agreed to provide his motorcycle to a co-accused for conducting reconnaissance in Bellare village to identify a potential target before carrying out the murder. He is also accused of joining other co-conspirators in attempting to murder a protected witness in the case.

The NIA said that in July it had also arrested two other absconding accused in the case—Abdul Nasir P., alias Nasir, from Kochi in Kerala, and Naushad from Hosur in Tamil Nadu. Those arrests were carried out during coordinated operations based on intelligence received from the Andhra Pradesh Police.

The agency added that two accused persons are still absconding, and efforts to trace and arrest them are continuing.

Praveen Nettaru, a BJP leader from Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district, was murdered on July 26, 2022. Following widespread public outrage over the killing, the investigation was handed over to the NIA. According to the agency, the murder was part of a larger criminal conspiracy orchestrated by members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar