NIA slueths raids PFI, SDPI offices in TN

Tiruchirapalli:National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials on Thursday conducted raids at the  offices of Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Tiruchirapalli and Kumbakonam in connection with the  sensational murder of a PMK party functionary for opposing religious conversion.

The NIA sleuths from Cochin, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.P.Shaukat Ali which is probing the murder case, raided the office of PFI at Palakkarai in Tiruchirapalli and the SDPI office at Kumbakonam in neighbouring Thanjavur district.

Police made tight security arrangements around the PFI and SDPI offices in view of the searches which is underway at both the locations.The office bearers of the two outfits were being questioned by the NIA officials.

The NIA sleuths also held  enquiries with the complainant and also about all the accused involved in the murder with Thiruvidaimaruthur DSP A.T.Ramachandran.

The PMK functionary V.Ramalingam (45), a native of Keezha Thoondil Vinayagam Pettai in Thirubhuvanam in Thanjavur district was hacked to death by a gang at Muslim Street on February 5 last allegedly by a group belonging to the Muslim community after the victim questioned them for attempting to convert Dalit people into Islam.

On a complaint from the victim's son R.Shyam Sundar, Thiruvidaimaruthur police registered a case, booked 16 persons and arrested 11 among them subsequently. However, following the demand from various quarters, the case was transferred to NIA on March 14.(UNI)