Karnataka: NIA arrests 3 more in Nettaru murder case

MANGALURU/HUBBALLI/MYSURU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided five locations in Karnataka on Saturday and arrested three persons in connection with the July 26 murder of BJP worker Praveen Nettaru. These raids were conducted in Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Hubballi, and Mysuru.
The arrested are K Mahammad Iqbal, K Ismail Shafi, from Bellare, and Ibrahim Sha from Kasaba in Sullia taluk, Dakshina Kannada. Iqbal is a gram panchayat member of Bellare village, while Shafi is the state secretary for the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
During the searches, digital devices and incriminating documents were reportedly found at the homes of the accused, sources said. The suspects were arrested for “active involvement in the conspiracy hatched to murder Praveen Nettaru,” stated a release. In Hubballi, NIA sleuths raided the residence of SDPI district general secretary Ismail Nalband in the wee hours of Saturday. A 10-member landed at Nalband’s residence at Noorani Plot in Old Hubballi at 4.30am and quizzed the family till 11am. Ismail’s son, Tahir Nalband, who was not at home, was issued a notice instructing him to attend a hearing at the NIA office in Bengaluru on November 11.
Ismail Nalband who was with PFI is now with SDPI. His wife Sahida had unsuccessfully contested the HDMC elections as the SDPI candidate from ward 75. Sources confirmed that the residence of Mysuru district general secretary of PFI Mohammad Suleiman, at Mandi Mohalla extension in Mysuru, was also raided. So far, 10 accused persons have been arrested in this case. The NIA has also declared a reward against four absconding accused in this case. The NIA has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information on Mahmmad Musthafa S alias Musthafa Paichar from Sullia and Thufail M H from Madikeri in Kodagu district.