FBI Pushes for Extradition of Indian National in 2017 NJ Murders

US officials are ramping up efforts to bring Nazeer Hameed, a 38-year-old Indian national, to the U.S. to stand trial for the 2017 double murder of Sasikala Narra and her six-year-old son Anish in New Jersey. The FBI has issued a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to his arrest, with his details prominently displayed on the agency’s Most Wanted page.

Hameed faces charges of two counts of first-degree murder alongside various weapon-related offences. Investigators believe he fled to India six months post-killings and have made several extradition requests since.

The tragic incident occurred on March 23, 2017, when the bodies of the victims were discovered in their Maple Shade apartment. Autopsy findings indicated numerous deep slashes to the neck, with the child almost decapitated. Both victims exhibited signs of struggle, creating a scene described by first responders as “unimaginable.”

As per the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office, Hameed resided in the same block as the family and worked alongside Sasikala’s husband, Hanumanth Narra, in an IT firm. Investigative leads suggested Hameed had been stalking Hanumanth, making him a primary suspect.

The lengthy investigation, spanning over eight years, has faced numerous challenges, particularly in gathering DNA evidence and facilitating the extradition. Interestingly, a blood droplet found at the crime scene matched Hameed’s profile, though attempts to obtain a formal sample through Indian channels have yielded minimal success. In 2020, Hameed declined to provide a DNA sample when approached by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

In 2023, a Mutual Legal Assistance request submitted to India's Ministry of Home Affairs remained unfulfilled. Nonetheless, Hameed's DNA was eventually sourced from his employer when a laptop keyboard produced a matching profile in connection with the crime evidence.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has reached out to Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra, urging the Indian government to cooperate on the extradition, stating that the “barbaric crime horrified the entire state" and affirming that justice must be pursued without delay.

Local law enforcement has reiterated their ongoing commitment to the case, keeping photographs of Sasikala and Anish in the detective bureau as a reminder of their pledge to deliver justice.

Prosecutors assert that they now possess significant physical evidence linking Hameed to the murders and emphasize that no international barriers should permit a suspect to evade justice. They are calling for expedited efforts from both the U.S. and Indian governments regarding the extradition.

The Indian community in New Jersey, spearheaded by the Indian Cultural Centre of Southern New Jersey, has persistently advocated for justice for the victims' family throughout the years.