Nettaru murder case accused get 3 days’ time to surrender

NIA gives three days for accused in Praveen Nettaru murder case to surrender or face confiscation of their houses and belongings.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is investigating the murder of Praveen Nettaru on Wednesday gave three days’ time to the accused who are absconding after the murder to surrender before the court. If they fail to surrender by June 30, it may confiscate the houses and belongings of the accused. NIA court officials and police personnel from Sullia have jointly made the announcement on Wednesday. The NIA also announced a cash reward if any information is provided which leads to the arrest of the accused.

The NIA gave three-days time to the accused in Praveen Nettaru case to surrender before the court. (ANI)

The murder, which took place on July 26 last year in Bellare village of Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, had sent shock waves in Karnataka. Nettaru was killed with sharp weapons, allegedly as part of banned organisation PFI’s agenda to strike terror among members of a community, and create communal hatred and unrest in the society.

The officials on Tuesday visited the house of accused Umar Farooq, who lived in Kallumutlu village in, Sullia taluk, and pasted a copy of the court order. In Bellare the NIA court order was announced through the loudspeaker, and a copy of the order was pasted at the house of another accused Mustafa. The NIA officials had made efforts to locate the accused by pasting their photos in public places. It has been 11 months since Praveen Nettaru’s murder, NIA has not been able to trace the accused.

A team of three officers led by NIA Chennai Division Inspector Shanmugam raided many parts of the Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada district on Tuesday. A raid was conducted at the house of one Naushad at Poye Gudde of Padangadi village under Beltangadi police station, but he was not at home at the time. Naushad, a PFI member, earlier worked as supplier in a hotel in Udupi. In connection with the case, a search has been conducted in Kodagu district, including Bellare and Sullia, for the other main accused, including Mustafa Paichar, Abubakar Siddique, Umar Farooq, and Masood Agnadi of Sullia are still at large.

The NIA officials filed charge sheet against 20 accused on January 20 at NIA court Bangalore in connection with the murder case. The NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet on May 2 against two more accused related to murder case.

Both the accused — Thufail M.H. and Mahammad Jabir — have been charged under various sections of IPC and UA (P) Act, 1967.

Thufail M.H. a native of Madikeri was said to be head of secret killer squad constituted by PFI to carry out terror activities, killing prominent leaders to create communal unrest. The NIA had announced reward of ₹5 lakh for the informer who give leads to his arrest. Later he was arrested from hideout in Bangalore.