NIA nabs PFI member, key accused in Kerala RSS leader’s murder
Shafeeq was taken into custody by the anti-terror agency for his involvement in the case
By Newsmeter Network Published on 19 March 2024 12:10 PM GMT
New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday traced and arrested a key absconding member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) for the 2022 gruesome murder of RSS leader Srinivasan in Kerala.
Shafeekh, who had been absconding since the targeted killing of Srinivasan in Palakkad on April 16, 2022, was tracked by the NIA absconder tracking team to Kollam district. He was taken into custody by the anti-terror agency for his involvement in the case.
A resident of Malappuram district, Shafeekh, was part of the PFI hit squads that had carried out the heinous killing of Srinivasan. As per NIA investigations, he had harboured KP Ashraf, who, under directions from the PFI leadership, had conspired with other leaders and cadres of the organisation to execute the conspiracy. Ashraf had also conducted a recce of various potential targets for elimination.
So far, a total of 71 persons have been identified as being part of the conspiracy, in which NIA has already filed two chargesheets: on March 17, 2023, and November 6. One of the accused, identified as Abdul Naser died on January 2, 2023, while two absconders, KV Saheer and Jaffar Bheemantavida were arrested respectively on 19th October 19, 2023, and February 12, 2024.
