Rationalist hacked in TN over FB posts

CHENNAI: A member of the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a political group in Tamil Nadu committed to spreading the rationalism of Dravidian ideologue Periyar, was hacked to death in Coimbatore on Thursday night, potentially because of a Facebook post that challenged religion.

Police said H Farook, a daily wage labourer who worked at the Ukkadam old market in Coimbatore, received a phone call at 11 pm on Thursday and left his house.

The 31-year-old was subsequently attacked and stabbed by a group of four unidentified men near his house, who fled from the spot after Farook’s cries for help attracted the attention of locals.

Police suspect that Farook’s anti-religious statements and posts on Facebook and WhatsApp may have provoked religious groups to attack him.

“Farook’s anti-Muslim sentiments

THE 31YEAROLD WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ATTACKED AND STABBED BY A GROUP OF FOUR UNIDENTIFIED MEN NEAR HIS HOUSE, WHO FLED FROM THE SPOT

had angered people. This may be a possible motive behind the murder,” said S Saravanan, deputy commissioner of police, Coimbatore.

Muslim man M Ansath subsequently turned up at the magistrates’ court on Friday confessing to the murder.

Police are investigating the murder and have sent the body for a post-mortem after collecting fingerprints and samples from the crime scene.