Arrest of key accused in Nettaru murder case reinstates Union govt.’s zero tolerance towards anti-nationals, says Capt. Chowta

Brijesh Chowta
| Photo Credit: File Photo

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arresting Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, a key accused in the 2022 murder case of BJP worker Praveen Nettaru in Delhi on Friday, reinstates the BJP led Union government’s zero tolerance policy towards anti-nationals, Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament Captain Brijesh Chowta said on Saturday.

“Every single person who plotted, planned or in the remotest of ways, was involved in the ruthless killing of our karyakarta Praveen Nettaru will be brought to book,” he said in a release.

The NIA arrested the absconding State executive member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) Sherif. He was picked up on arrival from Bahrain at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.

Nettaru was allegedly murdered by PFI cadres and members on July 26, 2022, in Bellare village of Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada. The NIA, which took over the investigation on August 4, 2022, has so far arrested 20 persons and chargesheeted 23 accused, including three absconders, in the case.

As per NIA investigations, Kodaje Mohammed Sherif was the PFI State Executive committee member and head of the outfit’s service team. Kodaje, along with co-accused, was involved in imparting arms training to the service team members in the Freedom Community Hall, Mittur, the MP said.

“Had the Congress government which is currently in power in Karnataka been in charge of this case, we all know how it would have turned out. Their appeasement politics and their history of withdrawing cases against offenders who have indulged in riots and other anti-national activities is well known,” Capt. Chowta who is also the Secretary of Karnataka unit of the BJP said.

“As revealed by the investigations so far, the conspiracy was aimed at spreading terror and communal hatred and unrest society. Knowing this, and despite our government banning PFI soon after, the Congress joined hands with SDPI in the local elections in Bantwal, making it clear where their sympathies lie,” said Capt. Chowta.

The MP said that he will make an effort to get an NIA centre in Mangaluru. “Because we can’t let these communal anti-national forces run their sleeper cells or drug cartels any more or derail development by killing our karyakartas and then getting our entire region a communal tag,” he said.