NIA nabs another absconding suspect in Praveen Nettaru PFI-linked murder case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Ummar Farook MR in Kochi, Kerala, on Wednesday. Farook had been on the run and is a main suspect in the July 2022 murder of Karnataka BJP Yuva Morcha leader Praveen Nettaru. This arrest brings the total number of people taken into custody in the case to 25.
According to the NIA, Farook was a key suspect. Authorities issued a Red Corner Notice, a non-bailable warrant, and offered a Rs 4 lakh reward for his capture. He was charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged role in the conspiracy.
Investigators found that he attended a planning meeting at the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) office in Sullia town. He is accused of giving his motorcycle to a co-accused for identifying and watching the target in Bellare village before the attack. He is also accused of trying to eliminate a protected witness.
Praveen Nettaru, a district-level BJP leader, was killed on July 26, 2022, outside his poultry shop in Bellare, Dakshina Kannada district. According to the NIA, the murder was planned by PFI’s ‘Service Teams,’ which are secret groups trained in weapons and surveillance. They aimed to spread fear, create communal tension, and support the group’s goal of establishing Islamic rule by 2047.
Meetings in Bengaluru, Sullia, and Bellare discussed possible targets, and four Hindu leaders were considered before Nettaru was chosen. The attack was made to look like a response to other local killings, but investigators believe PFI members planned it carefully.
The agency took over the case in August 2022. Its first chargesheet named 20 people, many with direct links to the PFI, and listed several as fugitives with cash rewards for their capture. Since then, the investigation has made steady progress.
Chief conspirator Mustafa Paichar was arrested in 2024 after hiding in several states. Other suspects were caught at airports, in nearby states, or while using false identities. In July 2026, the NIA arrested two more fugitives, Abdul Nasir P (also known as Nasir) from Kochi and Naushad from Hosur, after receiving information from Andhra Pradesh Police.
Farook was reportedly arrested after questioning these two men. Two suspects are still on the run, which shows that authorities can continue multi-state operations against the remaining networks of the banned group. The PFI was banned in 2022 for activities like arms training, radicalisation, and targeted killings. However, this case shows that members can still avoid detection in cities like Kochi by getting help from locals and waiting until the situation settles.
Farook’s arrest, nearly four years after the murder, shows the state’s determination to seek justice. The investigation is still ongoing, and justice for Praveen Nettaru is not yet complete, but each arrest moves the case forward and helps enforce the ban.
The Nettaru case highlights accusations against banned groups like PFI for trying to disrupt social harmony through targeted violence. As the agency continues its work, these developments show why ongoing investigations are important for bringing justice to victims of ideologically motivated crimes and for preventing future attacks.
