New York, Dec 3 (PTI) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a reward of up to USD 50,000 for any information leading to the arrest or conviction of Nazeer Hameed, an Indian national accused of the heinous murders of Sasikala Narra and her six-year-old son, Anish Narra. Hameed, 38, faces charges related to these 2017 killings in Maple Shade, New Jersey, and authorities in New Jersey are urging India to extradite him. Early this year, legal action intensified as Hameed was charged with two counts of First Degree Murder and weapons offenses. Despite these severe charges, Hameed returned to India half a year after the tragic event and has resided there since. The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office (BCPO) identified Hameed as a person of interest, following findings that linked him to Hanumanth Narra, the victims' husband and father. In response, a warrant for Hameed’s arrest was issued, and the FBI mobilized efforts to locate him, adding his profile to their Most Wanted list. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is actively seeking Indian cooperation for Hameed’s extradition, reaching out to Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra. Murphy underscored the impact of the crime on the state, offering full collaboration with various Indian and US governmental departments to expedite the extradition in line with the bilateral treaty. On March 23, 2017, officers from the Maple Shade Police Department discovered the bodies of Sasikala and Anish Narra, with autopsies confirming fatal slash wounds to their necks, and evidence of defensive struggles during their final moments. Nazeer Hameed, a resident of the same apartment complex and a coworker of Hanumanth Narra, became the focal point of scrutiny. Subsequent investigations hit a roadblock as multiple attempts to collect Hameed’s DNA in India failed. In October 2020, the Central Bureau of Investigation reported Hameed’s refusal to provide a sample. Even after a March 2023 Mutual Legal Assistance request to India, asking for a court order to obtain his DNA, progress stalled. Detectives faced criticism regarding their diligence due to cultural and ethnic dynamics but remained steadfast in their pursuit of justice. Symbolically, photographs of Sasikala and Anish served as daily reminders of the justice mission within the detective bureau. Ultimately, a request for a DNA sample to Hameed’s workplace enabled investigators to obtain a match, corroborating his alleged involvement. The BCPO, through Chief of Investigations Patrick Thornton and Lt. Brian Cunningham, expressed confidence in their findings and remain hopeful for Hameed's extradition. The extradition process involves cooperation between the Department of Justice and the State Department, with BCPO prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw advocating for swift governmental action to ensure accountability transcends borders. Throughout the investigation, support from community entities like the Indian Cultural Centre of Southern New Jersey proved invaluable. ICC Board of Trustees member Jayesh Parikh commended the tireless dedication shown by all law enforcement agencies involved.
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