NIA files supplementary chargesheet against two in murder case of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on May 2, 2023, filed supplementary chargesheet against two more accused in the case related to the murder of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru allegedly by cadres of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Karnataka last year.

The two accused persons namely Thufail M H and Mahammad Jabir, have been charged under various sections of the IPC and UA (P) Act, 1967. With this, a total of 21 accused persons have been chargesheeted in the case.

The murder, which took place on July 26, 2022, in Bellare village of Sullia Taluk in Dakshina Kannada district, sent shock waves in the state. Nettaru was killed with sharp weapons, as part of PFI’s agenda to strike terror among members of one community and create communal hatred and unrest in the society with the aim of furthering its goal of establishing Islamic Rule in India by 2047.

NIA investigations have revealed that Thufail M H, a resident of Kodagu district, was In-Charge of the PFI ‘Service Teams’ in Kodagu District and also a ‘PFI Master Trainer’ who would regularly impart advanced training, including arms training to the banned outfit’s cadres at the Freedom Community Hall, in neighboring DK district. He had harbored the three assailants of Praveen Nettaru in the Kodagu and Mysuru districts of Karnataka and in Erode district of Tamil Nadu, as per investigations by the NIA.

“The accused Mahammad Jabir was the PFI Puttur District President and had actively participated in the conspiracy meeting where it was decided to recce and murder Praveen Nettaru. He had also made provocative speeches where he had claimed that Masood’s murder will be avenged”, agency's press release stated.

The initial chargesheet was filed by NIA on January 20, 2023. The NIA had then stated that the PFI had formed secret ‘hit squads’ – ‘Service Teams’ or ‘Killer Squads’ to carry out the killing of its ‘perceived enemies and targets.’