Chennai: The shadow of ISIS appears ominous on the brutal killing of PMK functionary Ramalingam at Kumbakonam on February 5, as the National Investigating Agency (NIA) probing the case has picked up weapons, digital devices and cash, besides Islamic literature proving that the men accused were either supporters or active operatives of the ISIS.
An NIA press release has said its teams on Thursday searched 20 locations in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Trichy and Karaikal in connection with the murder. The agency has taken over the investigation of the sensational murder from the TN police. The Easter blasts in neighbouring Sri Lanka have kept all the Indian intelligence agencies, particularly the NIA, on their toes.
Taking charge of the Ramalingam murder case in all seriousness, the NIA on Thursday searched 20 locations in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Trichy and Karaikal. The raided places included the houses of 10 men arrested in the murder case, besides six absconding accused and four offices of the PFI. The searches yielded 16 mobile phones, 21 SIM cards, 3 laptops, 9 hard discs, 7 memory cards, 118 CDs/DVDs, 1 Tab, 7 diaries, 2 PFI banners and 1 DVR.
The NIA also seized a sword, a sharp edged knife and cash amounting to about Rs 2 Lakhs, from three houses. About 100 'incriminating' documents were also seized from the raided places, according to the NIA release.NIA has sent all the seized articles for forensic analysis, sources said, adding that there was evidence among the seized material to show the PFI-ISIS links.
To recall the February tragedy, Ramalingam, 41, of Thiruvidaimarudur had challenged a group of Muslim men engaged in converting the residents of a Dalit colony near his place in Kumbakonam. In the course of the heated arguments, the PMK functionary smeared holy ash (vibudhi) on the foreheads of the gathered people. Some local Muslim clerics brought about peace a couple of hours later and it seemed things had calmed down. But that night, Ramalingam was attacked with swords while returning home in his mini-van and both his hands were chopped off, in keeping up with the Sharia law that prescribes 'eye-for-eye' justice. He died due to excessive blood loss. The PMK and friendly allies agitated demanding justice. Police arrested some persons, including Nizam, a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI).
