Officers of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted simultaneous searches at the Popular Front of India (PFI) district unit offices at Thanjavur, Tiruchi, and Karaikal on Thursday, in connection with the murder of PMK functionary V. Ramalingam in Thanjavur in February.
Split into teams, the NIA officials carried out the operation armed with search warrants and with protection provided by the local police. Sources said the NIA conducted a search at the house of a person by name Mohamed Hasan Quthoos at Karaikal and seized a hard disk, laptop and books besides some unaccounted money. Quthoos it is alleged, was involved in the murder of Ramalingam.
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Thereafter, a search was conducted at the PFI district unit office at Karaikal town. This concluded in the afternoon. NIA teams carried out similar searches at the PFI office at Thanjavur town for about 45 minutes.
In Tiruchi city, another NIA team searched the premises of the PFI situated at Palakkarai. Although the NIA team had landed at the spot at around 8 a.m., the PFI office was closed and opened thereafter by its office bearers.
Armed protection was given by the City Police team to enable the NIA officers carry out their operation. The NIA team conducted enquiries with an office bearer of the PFI as part of the operation which lasted over six hours.
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Ramalingam, 45, was murdered by a gang on the night of February 5 at Thirubhuvanam. Thiruvidaimaruthur police, who registered a case, arrested 10 persons in connection with the incident and seized a car allegedly used by the assailants.
The PMK functionary was intercepted by a car-borne gang on Muslim Street at Thirubhuvanam around midnight and was attacked with lethal weapons resulting in deep cut injuries.
Subsequently, he was rushed to the Government District Headquarters Hospital, Kumbakonam, from where he was referred to the Government Medical College Hospital, Thanjavur.
He was declared dead on arrival at the GMCH.