PMK leader’s murder: NIA raids PFI offices

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided 20 locations, including the offices of an Islamic outfit, spread across four towns in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in connection with the murder of a PMK activist, who was allegedly killed for questioning religious conversion in February.

Four offices of Popular Front of India (PFI) in Kumbhakonam, Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli and Karaikal in Puducherry were raided on Thursday along with houses of the accused who have been taken into custody as well those who are still at large.

The NIA had recently taken over the investigations into the sensational case from the Tamil Nadu police. The victim, Ramalingam from Tirubhuvanam in Thanjavur district was murdered on the night of February 5 this year, a day after he allegedly questioned religious conversion in the area.

The murder had triggered tension in the district since it took place a day after the victim was engaged in an argument with members of a minority community. In a video that went viral on the social media, Ramalingam was seen arguing with a member from the Muslim community after the latter had allegedly preached about Islam in a village in the district.

"During searches, a number of digital devices including 16 mobile phones, 21 SIM cards, 3 laptops, 9 hard discs, 7 memory cards, 118 CDs/DVDs, 1 tab, 7 diaries, 2 PFI banners, 1 DVR have been seized. Besides a sword, a sharp-edged knife and Rs 2 lakh cash were recovered from three different houses and about 100 incriminating documents have also been seized," the NIA said in a statement.

Tamil Nadu Police, which began investigations immediately after the murder, has arrested 11 persons in this connection. The case was transferred to the NIA on March 14 and a four-member team is currently investigating the case.

The NIA had on Wednesday held discussions with the Thiruvidaimaruthur police and inquired family members of Ramalingam.