NIA Raids in Tamil Nadu: Major Breakthrough in Ramalingam Murder Case

The NIA conducted searches in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli as part of the investigation into the 2019 murder of Ramalingam. The operation revealed significant evidence against members of the Popular Front of India accused of his killing. The case highlights an ongoing effort to counter alleged forced religious conversions.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches across multiple locations in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli on Thursday, advancing the investigation into the Ramalingam murder case from 2019. Ramalingam was killed after opposing the Dawah work of leaders from the Popular Front of India (PFI), accused of converting Hindus to Islam.

In July last year, the NIA raided 21 premises, which included the homes of five absconding proclaimed offenders and other suspects in Tamil Nadu. By August 2019, they filed a chargesheet against 18 individuals, including the five proclaimed offenders, before the NIA Special Court in Chennai. All five have been declared as proclaimed offenders by the court.

Ramalingam was brutally murdered on February 5, 2019, at Paku Vinayakam Thoppu in Thanjavur, allegedly by PFI members. The NIA announced a reward of Rs 5 lakhs for information leading to the arrest of any of the five absconders. The prosecution for those already arrested continues.

The NIA has conducted extensive raids in districts such as Thanjavur, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Villupuram, Trichy, Pudukottai, Coimbatore, and Mayiladuthurai, uncovering numerous digital devices and documents. According to NIA findings, the murder was orchestrated by PFI members to incite fear and communal hatred among Ramalingam's supporters.

The violence was intended to create discord between communities and propagate division, said NIA, which declared PFI an 'unlawful association' under the UAPA on September 28, 2022.

(With inputs from agencies.)