Praveen Nettaru murder: Duo arrested on Sunday had PFI, SDPI links?

Puttur/Sullia: It is learned that the two accused, Abid and Naufal, who were arrested on Sunday, August 8 in the BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru, were taken for Mahazar to the SDPI office in Sullia on August 9. This has raised questions about the possible links between them and PFI / SDPI organizations.

A police team led by DySP Gana P Kumar brought Abid, a resident of Sullia Navur, and Naufal, a resident of Gourihole, Bellare, to the SDPI office at Aaletti Nagar Cross in Sullia at 8 am on Monday. The area was under tight security until the Mahazar was completed. There were reports of the Mahazar process conducted at various places in Sullia and Bellare.

The persons arrested in the case had participated in many programs of PFI. Four other accused — Shafiq, Saddam, Zakir, and Harris — arrested earlier were confirmed to be members of PFI and SDPI, sources claimed.

A preliminary investigation on the background of the two arrested on Sunday also pointed towards their involvement in the two organizations, sources added.

Meanwhile, many leaders of some organizations in Bellare have gone into hiding. It is not known whether they have done so for safety concerns or for their involvement in the murder. Police are still tracing the whereabouts of the 3 locals, who are presumed to be the killers of Praveen.

On Monday evening, Abid and Naufal were produced before the court in Sullia which remanded them to judicial custody till August 12.