Key facts
- NIA arrested two absconders in Praveen Nettaru murder case
- Praveen Nettaru was a BJP Yuva Morcha leader killed in Dakshina Kannada
- NIA has been investigating the case for its communal dimensions
The National Investigation Agency arrested two more absconders linked to the murder of Praveen Nettaru, tightening its net around the accused in one of Karnataka's most politically sensitive killings. Nettaru, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader, was hacked to death in Bellare, Dakshina Kannada, in July 2022, triggering protests and a sharp political controversy over communal violence in coastal Karnataka.
The NIA took over the investigation given the suspected organised and communal dimensions of the crime. The agency has been methodically pursuing accused individuals who had gone underground, and the latest arrests bring it closer to completing the prosecution of all those allegedly involved.
The case has remained politically charged, with the BJP using it as a rallying point in Karnataka and the NIA's continued involvement underscoring the Centre's stated commitment to pursuing such cases vigorously. The arrested individuals will now face charges under the relevant provisions being applied by the NIA.
The arrests are expected to be followed by a remand hearing, after which investigators will seek further custody to question the newly detained accused about their role in the planning and execution of the murder.