National Investigation Agency to probe PMK man’s murder

Investigating the murder of Ramalingam, a PMK functionary, the district police have already arrested Nizam Ali (33), Riswan (23) and Sharbudheen (60), of Thirubhuvanam, Azarudheen (26) of Thiruvidaimaruthur, and Mohammed Ryas (27) of Kurichimalai.

They were booked under sections 302, 294b, 307, 341, 143, 147 and 149 of IPC based on a complaint lodged by Ramalingam’s son, Shyamsundar. Before the murder, Ramalingam reportedly had a quarrel with a group of men who were engaged in preaching in the neighbourhood.

According to sources, the fresh case was registered by the NIA team from Kochi, Kerala.

Many cases,not enough staff:

The last Tamil Nadu case to be taken over by the NIA was that of a radical group in Keelakarai forming a WhatsApp group to spread hard core religious ideals, in January. The radicals were allegedly conspiring to cause communal disharmony besides forming terrorist gangs, raising funds, collecting arms and preparing for terrorist acts.

NIA sources on Friday noted that the agency is handling at least eight cases from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Most of the cases from Tamil Nadu that eventually went to the national agency are linked to espionage, suspected terrorism, and proscribed group IS. However, despite the sensitivity of the cases, the agency only has a camp office in Tamil Nadu.

In the absence of an SP office in Tamil Nadu, the agency has to register cases from Tamil Nadu in Kochi, New Delhi or Hyderabad. The skeletal staff of NIA in Chennai are used as language translators or liaison officer or logistic providers, sources added.