Published Mar 21, 2025 | 12:24 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 21, 2025 | 12:24 AM
Retired sub-inspector Zakir Hussain Bijli
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has assured a thorough investigation into the brutal murder of retired sub-inspector Zakir Hussain Bijli in Tirunelveli, asserting that all those involved will be brought to justice without bias. However, contradictions in his statements regarding Bijli’s warnings and complaints have raised concerns over the credibility of the police investigation, fuelling opposition criticism of law and order under his government.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday, 19 March, assured a thorough investigation into the brutal murder of retired sub-inspector Zakir Hussain Bijli in Tirunelveli district on Tuesday.
The chief minister stated that all those involved, including those who supported the crime, would be brought to justice without bias.
The murder has raised serious concerns about law and order in the state, particularly as Bijli had previously warned of threats to his life.
He had lodged multiple complaints with the police and shared videos on social media fearing for his life. Despite this, he was murdered just weeks later.
Addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday, Stalin confirmed that the crime stemmed from a land dispute.
He stated that the prime accused, Mohammed Taufiq, was apprehended on Tuesday after being shot in the leg by the police.
Two others, his brother-in-law Akbar Shah and an accomplice, Karthik, have surrendered. Authorities are now actively searching for Taufiq’s wife, Noornisha, who remains at large.
The case has triggered a political storm, with Opposition Leader Edappadi Palaniswami, Bharatiya Janata Party state president K Annamalai, and several Islamic organisations condemning the murder.
Palaniswami, in a strongly worded statement, criticised the law and order situation under Stalin’s government, drawing attention to another recent gang-related double murder in Kotturpuram.
“During the holy month of Ramadan, a retired police officer, who even served in your father’s special unit, could not safely return home after prayers. He had even released a video expressing concerns about threats to his life. What response do you have for all this, Mr Stalin?” he asked.
He further accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government of failing to stop the rise of violent gangs in Tamil Nadu due to its ineffective governance.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family has demanded police protection and the suspension of negligent police officers.
Authorities have given assurances regarding these demands, after which the family received the body of Zakir Hussain Bijli.
Meanwhile, contradictions in Stalin’s own statements at the assembly have sparked concerns over the credibility of the police investigation.
The chief minister initially stated that Bijli had posted a video accusing certain individuals on 8 January. However, the victim’s first video on the issue was uploaded only on 9 February.
Before that, Bijli had already lodged complaints in December 2024 and in the following months, alleging police inaction.
A former security officer to both former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and current Chief Minister MK Stalin, Bijli was attacked and killed by a three-member gang on the morning of 18 March while returning home from prayers.
The murder is linked to a long-standing land dispute over a Waqf property in Tirunelveli town.
After taking voluntary retirement from the police force, Bijli had been serving as the administrator of Murtim Zarkhan Dargah.
In his initial video post, Bijli detailed the history of the dispute, which dates back to 2005.
The disputed property legally belonged to the Waqf Board, and as the board-appointed Mutawalli (custodian), Bijli had said that he had been fighting to protect it.
He alleged that in 2005, he had leased the land to an individual who later illegally registered the property in his own name. However, Bijli had reportedly won a court case confirming the land’s rightful ownership under the Waqf Board.
The prime accused in his murder, Taufiq, had reportedly become involved in the dispute in recent years.
A Hindu convert to Islam, Taufiq had married a Muslim woman, Noornisha, two years ago and was allegedly attempting to claim ownership of the land, asserting it as Noornisha’s ancestral property.
The conflict between Bijli and Taufiq over the Waqf property escalated on 9 December, when the two reportedly engaged in a heated argument over the land.
Following the confrontation, Bijli filed a complaint at Tirunelveli Town Police Station, submitting it to Inspector Gopalakrishnan.
However, he later alleged in a video that his complaint was not officially registered until 14 December, five days later.
Meanwhile, on 11 December, Taufiq filed a counter-complaint against Bijli and his wife, Kanshika, under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police immediately registered a FIR against Bijli, who then secured anticipatory bail to avoid arrest.
Meanwhile, on 9 February, Bijli uploaded two Facebook video posts within a span of 90 minutes, detailing the land dispute and legal complaints while stating that his life was in imminent danger.
In the video, he named four individuals whom he held responsible should anything happen to him:
The failure to act on his repeated complaints and explicit warnings has raised serious concerns about the role of law enforcement in the case.
Bijli had consistently accused certain police officers of colluding with his opponents, alleging that while his complaints were suppressed, cases against him were expedited.
Following the controversy, Assistant Commissioner Senthilkumar has been suspended.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
