The Central NIA police team today (Sep 8) raided SDPI leader Riyaz Farangipete’s house at Kaikamba in Dakshina Kannada district in connection with the murder of BJP youth leader Praveen Nettaru’s murder.

Local SDPI activists staged protests with slogans such as ‘go back NIA’.

Over the last two days, a team of NIA police personnel is conducting a series of raids on the residences of prominent SDPI leaders and other organisations at 33 locations spread all over Dakshina Kannada district as part of the ongoing investigation in to Nettaru's murder.

Nettaru was hacked to death by two bike-borne attackers in Bellare village of Dakshina Kannada on July 26. The state police arrested six people before the government handed over the case to the NIA.

On Aug 11, the state police arrested three men in connection with the murder of Nettaru’s murder after a two-week-long operation that spanned neighbouring districts as well as Kerala.

The three arrested were identified as Shihab (33) who supplies cocoa to a private factory, Riyaz Ankathadka(27) who supplies chicken, and Basher (29) who works in a hotel. All accused hail from Sullia.

Seven people were arrested earlier for allegedly providing logistical support for the murder, including the identification of Nettaru as a target.

According to preliminary investigation by state police, some of the accused had links to radical islamic outfits like Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).