On 25 January 2025, the NIA arrested two absconding individuals in connection with the 2019 murder of Ramalingam, which is linked to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The arrested individuals, Abdul Majeeth and Shahul Hameed, both from Thanjavur, were found to be involved in the crime, according to NIA investigations.
The duo had allegedly conspired with others near the Periyapalli mosque in Thirubhuvanam on 5 February 2019, to sever Ramalingam’s hands in a bid to instill fear and incite communal tension.
The NIA took over the case from Tamil Nadu police in March 2019 and filed charges against 18 individuals in August 2019 in the NIA Special Court in Chennai under case RC-06/2019/NIA/DLI. Six of the accused were absconding, and a reward of ₹5 lakh was offered for information leading to their capture. The absconders were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.
In 2021, the NIA apprehended one of the six fugitives, Rahman Sadiq. In November 2024, Abdul Majeeth and Shahul Hameed were traced to Poombarai near Kodaikanal, and the NIA arrested their associate, Mohammed Ali Jinah, who was the 19th accused in the case. Jinah was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. However, Abdul and Shahul managed to evade capture until their arrest by the NIA on 25 January 2025. The agency continues to investigate the case.
NIA Arrests 2 Absconders in the 2019 PFI-Linked Ramalingam Murder Case pic.twitter.com/5laGwkzNkZ
— NIA India (@NIA_India) January 26, 2025
Who Was Ramalingam?
Ramalingam was a member of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) who was brutally murdered by radical Islamists after he resisted religious conversion efforts in his community. He strongly opposed such attempts and confronted a group of Muslim men who were trying to convert local residents to Islam. During the confrontation, Ramalingam removed a skull cap from one of the Islamic preachers and placed it on his own head while also applying ash to the man’s forehead to show secularism. In retaliation, the attackers severed Ramalingam’s right hand and left him to die.
The murder occurred on 5 February 2019, in Pakku Vinayagam Thoppu village, Thiruvidaimarudhur, when Ramalingam intervened in a religious propagation activity by a group linked to the PFI/SDPI. The Thiruvidaimaruduar police initially registered the case, and it was later taken over by the NIA on 25April 2019. The NIA’s chargesheet revealed that the accused had orchestrated the murder to instill fear and prevent further interference with the religious activities of the PFI/SDPI. Ramalingam’s killing led to intercommunal unrest and caused widespread fear in the community.
A total of 18 people have been charged in connection with the murder, including those who provided vehicles and shelter for the attackers, as well as those who planned and directed the crime. Ten of the accused, including Mohammad Azharuddin and Mohammad Riaz, filed a bail petition in the Poonamalle Special Court, but the court denied their request.
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