New Delhi, Mar 19: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key absconding member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) for the 2022 gruesome murder of RSS leader Srinivasan in Kerala.

As per the official statement, of NIA, 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.

The investigation agency said a total of 71 persons have been identified as being part of the “horrendous conspiracy” in which NIA has already filed two Chargesheets, March 17, 2023 and November 6, 2023.

One of the accused, identified as Abdul Naser, died on January 2, 2023, while two absconders, Saheer K V, and Jaffar Bheemantavida, were arrested on October 19, 2023, and February 12, 2024, said the NIA.

A resident of Malappuram district, Shafeekh, was part of the PFI machinery and Hit Squads that had carried out the heinous killing, under directions from the PFI leadership.

UNI