BENGALURU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested another key absconding accused in the 2022 Praveen Nettaru murder case, taking the total number of arrests in the high-profile case to 25.An NIA release stated that the accused, identified as Ummar Farook M.R., was apprehended from Kochi, Kerala following a targeted operation based on credible intelligence inputs.Farook, an absconding accused had a Red Corner Notice (RCN) and a non-bailable warrant for arrest against him. The investigating agency had also announced a reward of ₹4 lakh for information leading to his arrest.The NIA had earlier chargesheeted Farook in connection with the conspiracy behind the murder under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.Investigations revealed that he attended a conspiracy meeting at the office of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in Sullia town along with other accused.Investigation revealed that Farook had agreed to provide his motorcycle to a co-accused for identifying potential targets and conducting reconnaissance in Bellare village before the murder.He is also accused of participating along with other co-accused persons in an attempt to eliminate a protected witness in the case.The latest arrest comes weeks after the NIA, in July this year, apprehended two other absconding accused, Abdul Nasir P. alias Nasir, and Naushad, from Kochi in Kerala and Hosur in Tamil Nadu, respectively, in a coordinated operation based on information received from the Andhra Pradesh Police.The murder of Praveen Nettaru, a BJP functionary from Dakshina Kannada district, on July, 26, 2022 had triggered widespread outrage and led to the NIA taking over the investigation.NIA probe has revealed that the killing was part of a larger criminal conspiracy orchestrated by cadres of the banned PFI.In this case, two accused remain absconding. Efforts are continuing to trace and arrest the remaining absconding accused and to bring the investigation to its logical conclusion.
