BJP Yuva Morcha activist Praveen Nettaru was murdered at Bellare near Sullia on July 26, 2022.
| Photo Credit: File photo
National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials on Tuesday arrested a key accused in the Praveen Nettaru murder case.
Ateeq Ahmed is the 21st accused to be arrested in the case relating to the killing of Praveen at Bellare village in Dakshina Kannada district, allegedly by members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in July 2022.
According to the NIA, Ateeq had, under the PFI leadership’s guidance, harboured and assisted Mustafa Paichar, identified as the chief conspirator in the case.
“Mustafa had planned and executed the murder, carried out as part of the PFI agenda to trigger fear and communal unrest among the people. After the attack, Mustafa absconded and Ateeq facilitated his movement, including transporting him to Chennai. He had helped Mustafa evade law enforcement till the latter’s arrest in May 2024,” the NIA statement said.

The NIA, which took over the case from the local police in August 2022, had found during the investigation that the PFI had formed secret teams, referred to as “PFI Service Teams”, and trained members in arms and surveillance to carry out targeted killings such as that of Nettaru.
The agency is continuing with its investigation to trace the remaining six accused, against whom rewards have been announced.
Published – January 21, 2025 09:29 pm IST