PMK Ramalingam murder: NIA raids SDPI, PFI offices in Trichy, Kumbakonam and Karaikal

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at various locations in Trichy, Kumbakonam and Karaikal on Thursday in connection with the murder of PMK man Ramalingam on February 5. The NIA raided offices of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Thirubuvanam, Karuppur and Kumbakonam and the Popular Front of India (PFI) offices in Kumbakonam and Trichy. The NIA also raided the house of Abdul Majeed in Melakkari in Kumbakonam, an accused in the case who is absconding, while 11 others have been arrested in the case.

On the night of February 5, a group of men assaulted 42-year-old PMK functionary Ramalingam when he was on his way back home and chopped his hands off with billhooks. Ramalingam, who was bleeding profusely, was rushed to a private hospital in Kumbakonam, from where he was later transferred. However, Ramalingam died due to excessive bleeding on his way to the hospital.

The men had an altercation with Ramalingam at a Dalit colony in Thirubhuvanam when they were preaching about Islam. Ramalingam had opposed this and a video had been his son of him doing the same. The police FIR was altered on February 13 and it said that Ramalingam was murdered “...as a warning to people who are part of rationalist movements, people from other religions and the general public who engage in activities against Allah, Muhammed Nabi or Islam…”.

The Tamil Nadu Police had registered a case, carried out a probe and arrested 11 persons. The probe was later transferred to the NIA. The NIA registered a case on March 14.

The accused include Rahman Sadiq, an administrator to masjid activities in the Thirubuvanam area in Thanjavur district, and Muhammad Ali Jinna, the Thirubuvanam District Secretary of the PFI.

The NIA registered the case under Sections 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 294(b) (punishment for singing, reciting or uttering obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 307 (Attempt to murder), 120B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 143 (Punishment for a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 ( Rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and Section 302 (Punishment for murder ) read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and sections 15 read with 16, 18, 18B, 19 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.