NIA announces cash reward for info on absconding PFI members

MANGALURU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a cash reward for people who provide information about the four absconding Popular Front of India (PFI) members wanted in the Praveen Nettaru murder case.

BJP Yuva Morcha district committee member Praveen Nettaru was murdered by three assailants at Mastikatte in Sullia Taluk on July 26 night.

Within a few days of the murder, Dakshina Kannada district police had arrested the three assailants and seven people who were part of planning and recce. Considering the strong demand from the party workers and leaders, the Bommai government handed over the murder case to NIA.

The NIA which has taken up the case has now declared four PFI members as wanted. The four are identified as Mahmmad Musthafa of Bellare, Thufail MH of Madikeri, Ummar Farooq MR of Dakshina Kannada, and Abubakkar Siddik of Bellare.

The notice states that all four are members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and are wanted in the NIA case relating to the murder of Praveen Nettaru.

The NIA has declared a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh each to those who provide information about Mahmmad Musthafa and Thufail MH and Rs 2 lakh each to those who provide information leading to the arrest of Ummar Farooq MR and Abubakkar Siddik.

The Praveen Nettaru murder case resulted in communal tension in the region. While imposing a ban on PFI, the Central government had mentioned Praveen’s murder along with nine others.

The government as well as the BJP has extended help to Praveen’s family. Apart from financial support, Chief Minister Bommai has provided a job to Praveen’s wife. BJP state president and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel today laid the foundation stone for the new house of Praveen’s family.