The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested another suspect in connection with the murder of BJP worker Praveen Nettaru in Karnataka in July 2022.
The suspect, identified as Riyaz Yousaf Haaralli, was arrested at Mumbai airport while attempting to flee the country.
This arrest brings the total number of suspects detained in the case to 19. Riyaz’s arrest follows the capture of two other suspects, Mustafa Paichar and Mansoor Pasha, less than a month ago.
Praveen Nettaru, a member of the BJP Yuva Morcha district executive committee, was hacked to death by two motorcycle-borne assailants in Bellare village, Dakshina Kannada district, allegedly by members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).
According to NIA investigation, Riyaz returned to India from abroad on the instructions of absconding accused Abdul Rahman. Alongside Mansoor Pasha, Riyaz provided logistical support and a safe hideout for Mustafa Paichar in Sakleshpura, Hassan District. Paichar, the PFI Puttur district secretary and head of the Puttur district service team, was the chief conspirator in the case.
Paichar assembled the hit team that targeted Nettaru and absconded after the crime. He was eventually traced and arrested by the NIA from Sakleshpura on May 10 along with Mansoor Pasha.
The NIA, which took over the investigation on August 4, 2022, has so far filed charges against 21 accused persons. The agency is continuing its search for other absconding suspects.