The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has carried out searches at nine locations across Tamil Nadu on August 20, in connection with the 2019 murder of PMK functionary Ramalingam. The agency arrested Imthathullah, an Ambur biryani shop owner in Kodaikanal, for allegedly harbouring absconding proclaimed offenders linked to the case.
NIA sleuths conducted raids in Dindigul, Tenkasi, and Kodaikanal, including at the residence of Sheik Abdullah, an office-bearer of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
Thirubuvanam (in Thanjavur district) resident Ramalingam was attacked by members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) after he opposed Islamic religious conversion attempts in February 2019. The NIA took over the case in March 2019 and had earlier charge-sheeted 18 people. Of them, six were declared proclaimed offenders. Multiple arrests have been made since then, including that of Mohammed Ali Jinnah in November 2024 for allegedly sheltering absconders for nearly six years. Three more proclaimed offenders were arrested between 2021 and January 2025, while searches are still on for others, who carry a reward of Rs 5 lakh.
In January this year, the NIA arrested two absconding accused in the 2019 Ramalingam murder case linked with the banned PFI, Abdul Majeeth and Shahul Hameed, both hailing from Thanjavur. NIA investigations revealed the two were involved in the murder, the agency said. The duo had allegedly conspired with other accused near the Periyapalli mosque in Thirubuvanam on 5 February 2019 to chop off the hands of Ramalingam to create fear among people and spread communal hatred.
In 2021, the NIA arrested one of the six absconders, identified as Rahman Sadiq. In November 2024, the agency traced Abdul Majeeth and Shahul Hameed to the Poombarai area of Kodaikanal and arrested one harbourer, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, who was the 19th accused identified in the case. Jinnah was later remanded to judicial custody. Abdul and Shahul, however, managed to escape and were finally arrested.
Ramalingam was assassinated on 5th February 2019 in Paku Vinayakam Thoppu, Thanjavur by members and office bearers of the PFI, who had avenged and conspired to kill him as the victim had intervened in the Islamic dawah work/proselytisation carried out by the PFI dawah team despatched from Arivagam, Theni to forcibly convert underprivileged persons in Paku Vinayakam Thoppu. Investigation established that the violence was unleashed to strike fear among the opponents of the PFI outfit.
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