NIA conducts raids in Dindigul, Tenkasi in connection with Ramalingam murder case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday carried out searches at nine locations across Tamil Nadu in connection with the 2019 murder of PMK functionary Ramalingam.
Raids were conducted in Dindigul, Tenkasi, and Kodaikanal, including at the residence of Sheik Abdullah, an office-bearer of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). During the searches, the NIA arrested one person, Imthathullah, for allegedly harbouring absconding proclaimed offenders linked to the case.
The case relates to the killing of Ramalingam in Thanjavur district in February 2019. He was allegedly attacked by members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) after he opposed religious conversion attempts.
The NIA, which took over the case in March 2019, had earlier chargesheeted 18 people, of whom six were declared proclaimed offenders.
Since then, multiple arrests have been made, including that of Mohammed Ali Jinnah in November 2024 for allegedly sheltering absconders for nearly six years. Three more proclaimed offenders were arrested between 2021 and January 2025, while searches are still on for others, carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh.