The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Abdul Rahaman, a key suspect in the Praveen Nettaru murder case, after he had been on the run for two years. Rahaman was apprehended at Kannur International Airport upon his return from Qatar. The NIA described this arrest as a major breakthrough in their investigation into the targeted killing of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru, which was carried out by members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). Earlier, the NIA had arrested Ateeq Ahmed, another key figure in the case. Ateeq was found to have aided Mustafa Paichar, the chief conspirator, who masterminded and executed the murder as part of the PFI’s plan to sow fear and communal discord. After the attack, Mustafa went into hiding, with Ateeq assisting in his escape, including transporting him to Chennai. The NIA took over the case in August 2022 and discovered that PFI had established clandestine ‘PFI Service Teams’ to conduct targeted killings, including the one involving Nettaru. The murder took place in Bellare village, Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka.
