Chennai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against 20 Popular Front of India members in connection with the murder of BJP's Yuva Morcha leader Praveen Nettaru in Karnataka. The members of the banned outfit allegedly killed the BJP leader on July 26, 2022 in Bellare village of Dakshina Kannada with the intention to strike terror in the society and create fear among the people.
The PFI was also functioning to further its agenda of establishing Islamic Rule by 2047 to carry out killings of its ‘perceived enemies’.
According to ANI, NIA said, “The anti-terror agency filed the chargesheet in a special court in Bengaluru under sections of 120B, 153A, 302 and 34 of Indian Penal Code and sections 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Section 25(1)(a) of Arms Act.”
“Of the 20 charge-sheeted PFI members, six are absconding and rewards have been declared for information leading to their arrest in the case. The chargesheeted members include Mahd Shiyab, A Basheer, Riyaz, M Paichar, Masud KA, Kodaje Mohd Sherif, Abubakkar Siddik, Noufal M, Ismail K, K Iqbal, Shaheed M, Mahd Shafeek G, Ummar Farook M R, Abdul Kabeer CA, Muhd I Sha, Sainul Abid Y, Shekh Hussain, Zakiar A, N Abdul Haris and Thufail MH,” it said.
Among the chargesheeted accused, Mustafa Paichar, Masud KA, Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, Abubakkar Siddik, Ummar Farook MR and Thufail MH are currently absconding, it said.
Further, the NIA said that the PFI functioned by forming secret teams to kill ‘enemies’ to establish Islamic Rule by 2047. NIA said: “Investigations revealed PFI, as part of its agenda to create terror, communal hatred and unrest in society and further its agenda of establishing Islamic Rule by 2047, formed secret teams 'Service Teams' or 'Killer Squads' to carry out killings of its ‘perceived enemies’ and targets.”
“In furtherance of conspiracy meetings by PFI members and leaders held at Bengaluru city, Sullia Town and Bellare village, the head of District Service Team Mustafa Paichar was instructed to recce, identify and target a prominent member of a particular community,” it said.
On the murder of Praveen plotted by PFI, NIA said, “As per instructions, 4 persons were recced and identified and among them, Praveen Nettaru was assaulted and killed on July 26 last year in full public view with lethal weapons to create terror among the people and especially among members of a particular community.”