Ramalingam murder case: NIA raids 20 premises linked to 2 PFI members in Myladuthurai and Chennai

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) personnel on Tuesday conducted searches at the residences and other premises linked to two former members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in Myladuthurai and Chennai. NIA teams from Kerala, Karnataka and Chennai began the searches at Thirumullaivasal at Myladuthurai at 3.30 am.

The searches are said to be in connection with the murder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) functionary V Ramalingam at Thirupuvanam in Thanjavur district in February 2019. The NIA had arrested two former PFI members Abdul Majeeth and Shahul Hameed, both hailing from the Thanjavur district, in January 25. The PFI was banned by the Centre in 2022.

PMK functionary Ramalingam was brutally murdered on February 5, 2019, in Thanjavur for allegedly opposing the forcible conversion of underprivileged people by the Islamist group. The NIA had earlier conducted searches, last year at several locations in Thanjavur, Trichy, Coimbatore and Madurai, linked to the PFI functionaries and had filed chargesheet against 18 persons linked to the case. According to sources, Abdul Majeeth and Shahul Hameed had conspired with other accused persons near the Periyapalli mosque in Thirupuvanam on February 5, 2019, to chop the hands of Ramalingam, in a bid to create panic and fear among the people and create communal hatred.

The Ramalingam murder probe was transferred from the Tamil Nadu police to the NIA in March 2019. Later in August, chargesheets were filed against 18 accused. While the searches and investigations were under way, six of the accused are still absconding. A reward of Rs 5 lakh was announced for those who give information on the absconders who have been declared Proclaimed Offenders (POs).

Later in 2021, after further investigation and searches, the NIA arrested Rahman Saqid, one of the six absconders. In August 2024, searches were conducted in more than 20 places. Again in November 2024, with specific information from those who were arrested, the NIA traced and arrested Abdul Majeeth and Shahul Hameed at Poombarai in Kodaikanal. The NIA also arrested M Mohammed Ali Jinnah as the 19th accused in the case and remanded him to judicial custody.

While the searches on Tuesday are linked to the Ramalingam murder case, sources say the agency is also probing the links to the recruiters of yet another banned terror outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT). HUT is a pan-Islamist and a fundamentalist organisation founded by Palestinian Islamic scholar Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani. HUT follows the Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani constitution, written in 1968 hoping for an Islamic state. The NIA had conducted searches in September 2024, at 12 locations including Chennai, Kanyakumari and Pudukottai, in connection with recruitment of personnel for HUT.

The NIA had also arrested one of the members of HUT, Aziz Ahamed alias Jaleel Aziz Ahmed, at Bengaluru International Airport when he attempted to flee from India in August 2024.