Praveen Nettaru murder: NIA arrests absconding accused from Kochi, total arrests reach 25

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another absconding accused in the 2022 murder of BJP activist Praveen Nettaru, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 25. The accused, identified as Ummar Farook M.R., was taken into custody in Kochi, Kerala, during a targeted operation based on specific intelligence inputs.

According to the NIA, Ummar Farook had been evading arrest since the investigation began. He was wanted under a Red Corner Notice (RCN) and a non-bailable warrant. The agency had announced a cash reward of ₹4 lakh for information leading to his capture.

The NIA stated that Ummar Farook was chargesheeted under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. Investigators allege that he attended a meeting at the office of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in Sullia before the murder took place.

The agency's investigation found that the accused agreed to provide his motorcycle to a co-accused for reconnaissance and identification of targets in Bellare village ahead of the killing. He is also accused of participating in an attempt to eliminate a protected witness in the case.

The recent arrest follows an earlier NIA operation in which two other absconding accused — Abdul Nasir P. alias Nasir and Naushad — were arrested from Kochi, Kerala, and Hosur, Tamil Nadu, respectively. The agency has not specified the exact date of that operation, but it was part of the same crackdown on individuals linked to the murder.

Praveen Nettaru, a BJP activist in Dakshina Kannada district, was murdered on July 26, 2022. The killing triggered widespread outrage across Karnataka, and the state government handed over the investigation to the NIA. The central agency has maintained that the murder was part of a larger criminal conspiracy allegedly orchestrated by members of the banned PFI.

With Ummar Farook's arrest, the total number of accused arrested in the case has risen to 25. The NIA said two accused are still absconding, and efforts are continuing to trace and arrest them to complete the investigation.

The case remains a significant focus for the NIA, which has been probing the alleged conspiracy behind the murder. The agency has emphasised that it is committed to ensuring all those responsible are brought to justice.