Chennai: The country's premier National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a charge-sheet against 18 accused persons before the Special NIA Court, Chennai, in connection with the gruesome murder of PMK man Ramalingam five months ago.
According to sources, in a gruesome incident, Ramalingam of Kumbakonam, was murdered by a gang on February 5, 2019. Following investigations, it was identified that the accused were all activists or leaders of the Popular Front of India / Social Democratic Party of India. Members of these outfits had earlier opposed Ramalingam's interference in their religious propagation activity at Pakku Vinayagam Thopu village in Thiruvidaimarudur.
As a sequel, they hatched a criminal conspiracy and killed Ramalingam with the intention of terrorising people and deterring anyone from further interfering in their religious propagation activity. The incident caused communal disharmony and created terror in the minds of a section of people.
The charge-sheet was filed against them 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 Unlawful Assembly (Prevention) Act, against Mohamed Asarudeen (26), Mohamed Riyas (27), Nijam Ali (33), Sarbudeen (61), Mohamed Rizwan (23), Mohamed Thoufik (25), Mohamed Farvees (26), Thowheeth Batcha (26), Mohammed Ibrahim (50), all residents of Thanjavur district, Mohamed Hasan Kuthous (32) of Karaikal, Rahman Sadiq (39), Mohammad Ali Jinna (34), Abdul Majith (37), Bhurkhanudeen (28), Shahul Hameed (27), Nafeel Hasan (28), Mohamed Faruk (47), and Myden Ahamed Shali (50), all residents of Thanjavur district.
On Friday, the prosecution filed the chargesheet against them before the special court for NIA cases, Poonamallee.
