Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia
Sullia, Jan 21: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended another accused in the brutal murder of BJP youth leader Praveen Nettaru, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 21.
The arrested individual, Ateeq Ahmed, was taken into custody on January 20, according to sources. Ahmed, identified as a member of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), had been absconding since the murder in July 2022 in Bellare village of Dakshina Kannada district.
Praveen Nettaru
Ateeq Ahmed is the 21st accused to be arrested in the case relating to the brutal killing of Praveen Nettaru in the Bellare village of Dakshina Kannada district, by members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in July 2022.
Under the direction of the PFI leadership, Ateeq reportedly helped Mustafa Paichar, the chief conspirator in the case. Mustafa was accused of planning and carrying out the murder as part of the PFI's agenda to instill fear and incite communal unrest, according to the central agency.
Following the attack, Mustafa fled, and Ateeq allegedly assisted him in evading authorities, even helping him travel to Chennai. He continued to support Mustafa in avoiding capture until Mustafa's arrest in May 2024, the agency stated.
Background of the case
Praveen Nettaru, a young BJP Yuva Morcha leader, was attacked on the night of July 26, 2022, near his poultry shop in Bellare. Assailants armed with sharp weapons brutally assaulted him, leading to his untimely death. The shocking incident sparked widespread protests and unrest in the region, with public outcry demanding swift justice for the slain leader.
Investigation and arrests
Following the murder, the Karnataka government handed over the investigation to the NIA, suspecting the involvement of organized groups. The probe revealed that the murder was orchestrated to incite communal tension. The NIA identified and arrested several individuals linked to the PFI, an organization later banned for its alleged involvement in anti-national activities.
In December 2024, the NIA arrested Mohammed Sharif, a 55-year-old resident of Kodaje in Bantwal, at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Sharif, the sixth accused in the case, was a key conspirator and had a bounty of Rs 5 lac for his capture. The investigation uncovered Sharif’s role in organizing arms training sessions at Freedom Community Hall in Mittur and supervising PFI executive meetings where the murder was planned.
Acting on Sharif’s instructions, the team led by another accused, Mustafa Paichar, executed the murder. The arrests so far include individuals actively involved in planning and executing the crime.
Latest developments
With Ateeq Ahmed’s arrest, the number of detained individuals has risen to 21 out of the 26 accused named in the chargesheet.
The agency is continuing with its investigation to trace the remaining six accused, against whom rewards have been announced, the release stated.
The probe had also revealed that the assailants targeted Praveen to avenge the death of a Muslim youth, killed in a road rage case.
The NIA had submitted 1,500 pages of the charge sheet, including statements of 240 witnesses.
The move of the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) to announce the ticket for Shafi Bellare, an accused in the murder case of Praveen Kumar Nettare to contest assembly elections in Karnataka had stirred a debate. He contested from the jail and lost the deposit in the elections.
(With inputs from IANS)