In a significant development in the investigation of the targeted killing of BJP Yuva Morcha member Praveen Nettaru, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested Abdul Rahaman, a key accused who had been evading arrest for two years. Abdul Rahaman was apprehended at Kannur International Airport upon his arrival from Qatar.
This arrest marks a major breakthrough in the case, which involves cadres of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). Abdul Rahaman was one of the four absconders chargesheeted by the NIA in April 2025, bringing the total number of accused in the case to 28. The NIA had also announced cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of six absconders, with Abdul Rahaman carrying a reward of Rs 4 lakh.
According to the NIA, Abdul Rahaman acted under instructions from PFI leadership by sheltering the main assailants and other conspirators involved in the murder. After the attackers were arrested, he fled to Qatar to avoid capture.
Praveen Nettaru was brutally murdered with sharp weapons by PFI members on July 26, 2022, in Bellare village, Sullia taluk, Dakshina Kannada district. The killing was part of a wider conspiracy aimed at inciting communal hatred and terrorizing the community. The NIA took over the case on August 4, 2022, and continues to hunt for the remaining absconders.
