AIADMK General Secretary and Opposition Leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday strongly condemned the brutal murder of retired Sub-Inspector of Police Zakhir Hussain in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district. He accused the state police of negligence and demanded strict legal action against those responsible.
Hussain was hacked to death on March 18, 2025, while returning home after early morning Ramzan prayers. Reports suggest that he had previously raised alarms about threats to his life but was ignored by the police.
Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Palaniswami pointed out that Hussain had formally complained three months ago to the Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner, Town Assistant Commissioner, and the Inspector of Police, warning that his life was in danger.
“Instead of investigating his complaint, the police allegedly arranged a forced mediation (katta panchayat) between Hussain and those he had accused,” Palaniswami said, criticizing the police for failing in their duty.
He further alleged that the Assistant Commissioner of Police and the Inspector of Police had leaked Hussain’s complaints to his alleged attackers, making him even more vulnerable.
Palaniswami highlighted a viral video in which Hussain had publicly stated that a gang of 20 to 30 people was planning to kill him. Despite this, the police failed to act.
“This murder has occurred due to blatant police negligence. I strongly condemn this incident and demand strict legal action against those responsible for both the murder and the failure to protect him,” he said.
The AIADMK leader called for immediate accountability, urging that officers who ignored Hussain’s complaints be held responsible.
Hussain was reportedly embroiled in a land dispute, and his social media posts had explicitly named two senior police officers in Tirunelveli, accusing them of collaborating with the prime suspect in the case.
As outrage grows over the failure of law enforcement, the case has reignited concerns about police inefficiency and alleged corruption in handling public safety matters. Palaniswami reiterated that justice must be served to restore public confidence in law enforcement.
