TN Ex-Police Officer Murder: Two Suspects Surrender in Tirunelveli Court
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Synopsis
Two suspects in the murder of a retired police officer in Tamil Nadu surrendered in court. The attack was linked to a land dispute, raising questions about police negligence. The incident has sparked significant political backlash and calls for accountability.
Key Takeaways
- Two suspects surrendered for the murder of a retired police officer.
- The victim was involved in a land dispute prior to his death.
- Political leaders are criticizing the police for their inaction.
- The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder.
- There are calls for better protection for those facing threats.
Chennai, March 18 (NationPress) Two suspects involved in the brutal killing of a retired police officer in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli turned themselves in to a court on Tuesday.
The individuals, named Karthik and Akbar, both from Tirunelveli, appeared before Judicial Magistrate IV, admitting their alleged roles in the murder of Zakhir Hussein Bijli, aged 64, a former Sub-Inspector with the Tamil Nadu Police.
Bijli was assaulted while riding his motorcycle home after attending morning prayers. A gang of four armed men ambushed him near Kaatchi Mandapam in Tirunelveli town, viciously attacking him with sharp weapons until he succumbed to his injuries.
Initial police inquiries indicate that Bijli was involved with the Murtim Zarkhan Dargah in Tirunelveli and was embroiled in a legal dispute concerning a 36-cent land parcel in the area. Reports suggest that this dispute was linked to land owned by the wife of one of the suspects, Toufiq. Bijli had asserted that the land belonged to the Waqf Board, claiming his own encroachment by building a shed. However, Toufiq’s family contended that it was a private gift from his mother-in-law. This ongoing conflict had intensified over time, with police records showing that Bijli was named in a legal case filed by Toufiq’s family in January 2025.
Authorities are currently probing whether this long-standing dispute was a direct catalyst for his murder.
The killing has ignited strong political responses.
Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) General Secretary S. Ahmed Navavi noted that Bijli was actively fighting a legal battle to reclaim the 36 cents of land allegedly taken by private parties.
“Bijli had voiced concerns over threats to his life in a social media post back in February, yet the police did not provide him with sufficient protection. Their negligence has now culminated in this heinous crime,” he remarked. He called on the authorities to take such threats seriously to avert similar tragedies in the future and demanded the swift arrest of everyone involved in Bijli’s murder.
The incident has also faced sharp criticism from the opposition, especially from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose state leader K. Annamalai described the murder as “deeply shocking,” attributing the worsening law and order in the state to the DMK government.
“Law and order in Tamil Nadu has deteriorated to the extent that even a retired police officer was threatened and killed. The police ignore complaints from the public while focusing on suppressing critics of the DMK government. How many more lives will be sacrificed due to this administration’s incompetence?” Annamalai posted on X.
BJP State Vice President Narayanan Thirupathy condemned the DMK government, asserting that “despite Bijli’s repeated warnings regarding threats to his life, the police took no action.” He urged that the Chief Minister must take responsibility and empower the police to operate independently in order to combat crime and lawlessness. “If this persists, Tamil Nadu will become a haven for criminals.”
BJP MLA and Mahila Morcha National President Vanathi Srinivasan echoed similar concerns.
In the meantime, the police have escalated their investigation to locate the remaining suspects linked to the murder. Officials are also reviewing Bijli’s past complaints and security issues to ascertain if any negligence from authorities contributed to his demise.
