The National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched the residence of a former functionary of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Coimbatore on Sunday morning as part of its investigation into the 2019 murder of Pattali Makkal Katchi functionary V. Ramalingam at Thirubhuvanam in Thanjavur district.
NIA sleuths conducted searches at the residence of M.Y. Abbas at H.M.P.R. Street at Kottaimedu near Ukkadam.
Sources privy to the development said Abbas was questioned by the NIA sleuths to find out if he had contacts with the five accused in Ramalingam murder case who are at large. Mohammed Ali Jinna, Abdul Majith, Bhurkhanudeen, Shahul Hameed and Nafeel Hassan are the five accused who are absconding.
He had been in charge of Kurichi and Aathupalam areas of the PFI in Coimbatore City before the organisation was declared a banned outfit. He is also a close associate of A.S. Ismail, national executive committee member of the PFI who was arrested by the NIA last year.
The NIA sleuths left the residence after conducting searches for more than two hours, after taking certain materials including cash into their custody. Abbas was summoned to the NIA office in Coimbatore by noon and officials questioned him.
The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) staged a protest in Coimbatore on Sunday evening, condemning the NIA searches at the residence of SDPI’s State president Nellai Mubarak in Tirunelveli. More than 100 people including women took part in the protest led by SDPI’s State secretary SDPI Raja Hussain.
