National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths has arrested head of the ‘Dawah’ team in connection with the sensational murder of a Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) functionary, who opposed an alleged attempts made by the team to convert Dalit people to Islam.
Shali alias Mydeen Ahmed Shali (51), a resident of Tenkasi in Tirunelveli district, was arrested on late Wednesday night, NIA said in a statement on Friday.
The case initially registered by Thiruvidaimarudhur Police station in Thanjavur district over the brutal attack and murder of the PMK functionary, V Ramalingam (45), after the deceased confronted the Popular Front of India (PFI) activists and Dawah workers who had indulged in alleged proselytizing activity at Pakku Vinayagam Thoppu in Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district on February five, last.
The investigation was taken over by NIA after re-registering the case on March 7, under sections 341, 294 (b), 307, 120B, 143, 147, 148, 149 and 302 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), besides sections 15 read with 16, 18, 18-B, 19 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
Shali had entered into an altercation with Ramalingam and had also ‘participated in the subsequent conspiracy meetings’ conducted by PFI and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists, wherein ‘it was decided to attack Ramalingam’.
