Ramalingam murder case: NIA files charge-sheet against 18 people

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a charge-sheet against 18 accused persons before the Special NIA Court, Chennai, in the Ramalingam murder case.

The charge-sheet was filed under Sections 120B, 341, 294(b), 302, 212 and 153A(1)(b) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 16(1)(a), 18, 18-B, 19 and 20 of the UA (P) Act, against "Mohamed Asarudeen (A-1), aged 26, Mohamed Riyas (A-2), aged 27, Nijam Ali (A-3), aged 33, Sarbudeen (A-4), aged 61, Mohamed Rizwan (A-5), aged 23, Mohamed Thoufik (A-6), aged 25, Mohamed Farvees (A-7), aged 26, Thowheeth Batcha (A-8), aged 26, Mohammed Ibrahim (A-9), aged 50, all residents of Thanjavur district; Mohamed Hasan Kuthous (A-10), aged 32, resident of Karaikal, Puducherry; Rahman Sadiq (A-11), aged 39, Mohammad Ali Jinna (A-12), aged 34, Abdul Majith (A-13), aged 37, Bhurkhanudeen (A-14), aged 28, Shahul Hameed (A-15), aged 27, Nafeel Hasan (A-16), aged 28, Mohamed Faruk (A-17), aged 47, and Myden Ahamed Shali (A-18), aged 50, all residents of Thanjavur district," read a statement.

"Case pertains to the lethal attack and killing of Ramalingam, native of Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu on February 5, 2019 by accused persons who are all activists/ leaders of PFI/SDPI for interfering in their religious propagation activity at Pakku Vinayagam Thopu village in Thiruvidaimarudur, on February 5, 2019 morning," the statement added.

The case was originally registered at Thiruvidaimaruthur Police Station, Thanjavur district on February 6. The investigation was taken over by NIA from Tamil Nadu Police on April 25. The NIA stated that the "investigation has revealed that accused persons, after victim Ramalingam had an altercation with the dawah team of PFI on the morning of February 5, at Pakku Vinayagam Thopu village, hatched a criminal conspiracy and attacked Ramalingam, causing his death, with the intention of terrorising people and deterring anyone from further interfering in the religious propagation activity of the PFI/SDPI."

"The killing of Ramalingam had caused communal disharmony and created terror in the minds of a section of people. A-8 besides A-13 to A-15 had lethally attacked Ramalingam and caused his death while A-6 and A-7 had facilitated the same through reconnaissance over the victim`s movements. Accused A-9 had provided the vehicle, while A-10 had harboured the assailants and reconnaissance team, after the incident," the statement read.  

"A-1 to A-5 besides A-17 and A-18 were also parties to the criminal conspiracy to commit the terrorist act, while A-11, A-12 and A-16, all PFI leaders, had planned, coordinated and supervised over the execution of the heinous crime. Accused persons viz. A-1 to A-10 besides A-17 and A-18 have been arrested and are in judicial custody, while A-11 to A-16 are absconding, ever since the incident," it added. 

Further investigation is underway.