Thanjavur: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested one more person in connection with the killing of Ramalingam - man who was killed allegedly by members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Tamil Nadu’s Thirubhuvanam in February. 

Shali alias Myden Ahmed Shali is believed to be the head of dawah (proselytism) team that allegedly had an altercation with Ramalingam the day he was killed. Shali was arrested from Ernakulam in the neighbouring state of Kerala. 

The NIA has also stated that the accused had participated in the alleged conspiracy meetings that were conducted by the Popular Front of India and Social Democratic Party of India activists, wherein it was decided to attack Ramalingam.

"The accused will be produced before the NIA special Court, Ernakulam and taken to Chennai on transit remand for production before the jurisdictional NIA special court," NIA spokesperson said.

Initially, a case was registered at Thiruvidaimarudur police station in Thanjavur district. Later, the case was taken over by the NIA. The arrest comes months after 42-year-old Ramalingam, also a PMK functionary, was murdered. 

Ramalingam was allegedly attacked by a group of unidentified men on February 5, who not only killed him, but also chopped his hands off before taking his life. Ramalingam was attacked right before his son’s eyes. 

He succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital. The probe into the murder, allegedly carried out by a group of Muslim men who had been involved in an altercation with Ramalingam earlier that day, is being handled by the NIA.

A video of Ramalingam’s altercation took the internet by storm at the time wherein he could be seen talking to three men wearing Muslim skull caps, about religion.

Ramalingam, during the discourse of religious conversion, even went on to take their skull caps and place it on his head before applying a streak of sacred ash over their forehead.

That same night, when Ramalingam was returning home from work along with his son, he was attacked. Ramalingam’s son testified that it was the same group of people with whom his father, earlier in the day, had an altercation with.

The NIA has previously stated in court that the planned attack on the PMK member was an act of 'terrorism' aimed at causing communal disharmony.

Eleven accused are in custody of the NIA including Mohamed Asarudeen (A1), Mohamed Riyas (A2), Nijam Ali (A3), Sarbudeen (A4), Mohamed Rishwan (A5), Mohamed Thowfik (A6), Mohamed Parvish(A7), Thowqeeth Batch(A8), Mohamed Ibrahim(A9) and Mohamed Hassan Kuthous(A10).