By: Richard L. Smith
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has formally requested assistance from the Government of India in the extradition of Indian national Nazeer Hameed, who was charged last month in the 2017 murders of Sasikala Narra and her six-year-old son, Anish, in Maple Shade.
According to the Governor’s Office, Murphy sent a letter and spoke directly with Vinay Kwatra, Ambassador of India to the United States, urging cooperation in returning Hameed to New Jersey to face charges.
Hameed currently resides in India and left the United States approximately six months after the killings.
The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announced charges last month following a multi-year investigation conducted alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.
A recent DNA analysis by the New Jersey State Police DNA Laboratory linked Hameed to the crime scene, leading to his formal indictment.
In his communication to India, Governor Murphy cited the 1997 Extradition Treaty between the United States and the Republic of India, noting the long-standing cooperation between both nations in matters involving violent crime and the rule of law.
“This heinous crime shocked our state, and for eight years investigators pursued every available lead,” Murphy said. “The Government of New Jersey stands ready to cooperate fully with the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Ministry of Home Affairs of India, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of State, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to facilitate the extradition process in accordance with both Indian law and the terms of our bilateral treaty. I wish to convey my profound gratitude to Ambassador Kwatra… for his prompt attention to this matter and for the continued partnership between our governments.”
Officials noted that the charges against Hameed remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.