The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended Shafeeq (28), the prime accused in the murder case of RSS senior worker Sreenivasan (45). Sreenivasan was brutally murdered in his hometown of Palakkad on April 16, 2022, sending shockwaves through the region. Shafeeq, who had been absconding since the heinous crime took place, was finally captured by NIA operatives on March 19 in Karunagappally, Kollam district.
Shafeeq, a resident of Malappuram, was identified by the NIA as a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI) hit squad, allegedly involved in executing targeted killings.
NIA Arrests Key Absconding PFI Member for RSS Leader Srinivasan’s Murder pic.twitter.com/LeFSngBczy
— NIA India (@NIA_India) March 19, 2024
Sreenivasan was killed by a six-member armed killer squad. During the early days of the investigation, the inquiry was done by a special team of Kerala Police before the NIA took over.
The NIA arrested, on February 12, the other accused, KV Saheer and Bheemantavide Jafar. When they were interrogated, the investigators got the information regarding the supporters of terrorist outfit who helped the accused to go underground.
Sreenivasan was a former RSS Pracharak and a former Palakkad Zilla Sareerik Pramukh. The killers intruded into his office in Melamuri, Palakkad, and killed him brutally during broad daylight.
Shafeeq, produced before the magistrate following his arrest, stands accused of recruiting and shielding the hit squad responsible for Sreenivasan’s murder. The NIA asserts that Shafeeq, along with other accomplices such as K.P. Ashraff, meticulously planned and executed targeted killings. Their modus operandi involved compiling hit lists, closely monitoring victims’ movements, and carrying out operations with deadly precision.
The arrest sheds light on the pervasive influence of terrorist outfits in Kerala, raising concerns about the neutrality of the state police force. Allegations of sympathisers within the force, purportedly connected through a WhatsApp group named ‘Pachavelicham’ (green light), have fueled public apprehension. Both the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) are under scrutiny for their responses to religious fundamentalism, with accusations of appeasement rife.
As the NIA delves deeper into the case, the people of Kerala pin their hopes on the agency to unearth the full extent of terrorist activities and ensure justice for victims like Sreenivasan. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against extremism and the critical role of law enforcement in safeguarding communal harmony and upholding the rule of law.
The arrest of Shafeeq and revelations from the ongoing investigation underscore the need for vigilant measures to combat terrorism and preserve the integrity of law enforcement agencies in Kerala.
