NIA: PFI plotted murder of Ramalingam

The 18 suspects, who have been named in chargesheet, were identified as Mohamed Asarudeen (26), Mohamed Riyas (27), Nijam Ali (33), Sarbudeen, aged (61), Mohamed Rizwan (23), Mohamed Thoufik (25), Mohamed Farvees, (26), Thowheeth Batcha (26), Mohammed Ibrahim (50), Rahman Sadiq (39), Mohammad Ali Jinna (34), Abdul Majith (37), Bhurkhanudeen (28), Shahul Hameed (27), Nafeel Hasan (28), Mohamed Faruk (47), Myden Ahamed Shali (50) from Thanjavur district and Mohamed Hasan Kuthous (32) of Karaikal.

The NIA had invoked sections of 120B, 341, 294(b), 302, 212 and 153A(1)(b) of IPC and sec. 16(1)(a), 18, 18-B, 19 and 20 of the UA (P) Act, in its chargesheet, which said that the accused were all activists/functionaries of PFI/SDPI and had conspired to kill Ramalingam for reportedly interfering in their religious propagation activity at Pakku Vinayagam Thopu village in Tiruvidaimarudur.

The NIA took over the case from Tamil Nadu Police on April 25.

Investigation by NIA has revealed that the accused hatched a criminal conspiracy and murdered Ramalingam after he had an altercation with the dawah team of PFI on February 5 at Pakku Vinayagam Thopu.

Three of the accused had lethally attacked Ramalingam and caused his death while two other suspects had facilitated the same through reconnaissance over the victim’s movements. While one suspect had provided the vehicle, another had harboured the assailants and reconnaissance team, after the incident.