M Raziya Begum demanded his immediate release besides action against NIA officials

TRICHY: Condemning the arrest of Mohammed Faruk, 48, of Ilangakurichi in Manapparai by National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the murder of V Ramalingam in Kumbakonam, his wife M Raziya Begum submitted a petition to the collector claiming that her husband was framed in the case. She demanded his immediate release besides action against NIA officials.

“My husband is a propagator of good values of Islam. He explained to Ramalingam about his misunderstandings about Islamic principles and left Thirubuvanam. He learned about the murder through newspapers and had no role in it. NIA has foisted false case against him as if his campaign about Islam was the reason for the murder,” Raziya said in her petition on Tuesday.

Ramalingam, a PMK cadre, was murdered by a gang in Thirubuvanam on February 5. Around 16 people were named accused and 10 arrested by the Thiruvidaimarudhur police initially, NIA arrested Faruk on May 10 after it took over the case. The central agency included him as one of the accused in the FIR for criminal conspiracy. The agency also said that six more accused were absconding. In a statement by NIA on May 10, it was said that Faruk and other accused had hatched a criminal conspiracy for committing a terrorist act. NIA also claimed that the accused were cadres of Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).

Refuting the allegations, his wife said that Faruk was into the business of making Ayurveda medicines and propagating the religious values of Islam. She also demanded that the collector take steps against NIA officials for allegedly framing her husband in the case.

