Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Mar 19 (UNI) A day after a 64-year-old Retired Sub-Inspector of police S Zakhir Hussain Bijili was brutally hacked to death by a gang over a land dispute at Katchi Mandapam in Tirunelveli city, a police inspector was placed under suspension on Wednesday for dereliction of duty.

The Inspector of Police attached to the Tirunelveli town police station was placed under suspension for dereliction of duty for failing to take action on a death threat complaint filed by Hussain Bijili.

Police sources said Tirunelveli City Commissioner of Police Santosh Hadimani issued an order suspending the erring police official P.Gopalakrishnan, following a preliminary inquiry.

The family members of Zakhir, who refused to accept the body after the post-mortem demanding action against the erring cop, accepted the body this afternoon after the Police Inspector was placed under suspension.

The slain S.I Zakhir, who was a member of the Special Protection Group (SPG) of former Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi was returning to his house at Thottipalam, after offering Namaz (prayer) in a mosque on Tuesday morning, when an armed four-member-gang waylaid him at Kaatchi Mandapam in Tirunelveli town and attacked him with sickles, killing him on the spot.

Zakhir, who was serving as ‘muthavalli’ (trustee) of Murtim Zarkhan Dargah in a video post on Facebook last month alleged that he was facing death threat for resisting encroachment of 36 cents of land belonging to Wakf Board by a converted Muslim Mohammed Thoufeek (32).

The land under dispute belongs to Noor Nisha, wife of Thoufeek. However, Zakhir contended that the land belongs to Wakf Board and erected a shed resulting in an enemity between them.

Following a complaint from Thoufeek, the Tirunelveli town police registered a case against Zakhir under SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act.

Zakhir alleged that he was facing death threat from Thoufeek over the land dispute and despite his complaint to Tirunelveli Town police Inspector Gopalakrishnan and Assistant Commissioner of Police Senthil Kumar, no action was taken against him. Instead the two police officials colluded with the accused (Thoufeek), he said.

Two persons identified as M.Akbar Sha (32) and S.Karthik had surrendered before Judicial Magistrate 4 in connection with the murder.

Meanwhile, police formed three special teams to arrest Thoufeek and Noor Nisha, who were absconding, the sources added.

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