Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 19 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday said that a fair investigation would be carried out into the murder of retired Sub-Inspector of Police Zakhir Hussain in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

Hussain, who was hacked to death on March 18 while returning home after early morning Ramzan prayers, had previously raised serious concerns about his safety.

Speaking in the Assembly, Stalin said that special police teams have been formed to arrest the culprits involved in the murder.

'His wife has made a complaint at the police station. Two persons have surrendered in this murder till now. Police have formed special teams to catch the other culprits involved in the murder. As per the first investigation, a land-based issue was there before, and both of them have given complaints against each other on that issue in which investigation was happening, but unfortunately, this sad murder incident was held,' Stalin said.

'Without any bias, a fair investigation will be held, and I make sure the culprits will be given punishment. This government will not allow anyone to take the law into their hand,' he said.

Meanwhile, AIADMK General Secretary and Opposition Leader Edappadi Palaniswami condemned the murder of retired Sub-Inspector of Police Hussain and called for appropriate measures to ensure justice for him.

Palaniswami criticised the police for failing to address Hussain's complaints and accused them of dereliction of duty, saying the incident highlights severe shortcomings in police functioning.

Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Palaniswami condemned the murder of the retired police official and said that Hussain had filed a complaint three months earlier with the Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner, Town Assistant Commissioner, and the Inspector of Police, warning them that his life was under threat.

'In Tirunelveli city, on March 18, 2025, retired police officer Zakhir Hussain was brutally hacked to death by a group of individuals while returning home after completing the early morning Ramadan prayers at the mosque. He had previously served as an administrator at a Muslim Waqf institution,' said the AIADMK leader.

'Three months ago, he had filed a complaint with the Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner, the Town Assistant Commissioner, and the Inspector of Police, stating that his life was in danger. However, the police failed to investigate the matter properly or take any preventive action. Instead, it is reported that the police arranged a forced mediation (katta panchayat) between Zahir Hussain and the individuals he had accused in his complaint,' he stated.

He called for strict legal action against those responsible for both the murder and the negligence in handling Hussain's complaints.

A retired Sub-Inspector of Police, Zakhir Hussain, posted a video on social media expressing the fear that he might be killed and that a gang hacked him to death in Tirunelveli on Tuesday (March 18). He was reportedly involved in a land dispute.

In a social media post, Zakhir mentioned the death threat he was facing and accused two senior police officers from Tirunelveli of conspiring with the prime suspect. (ANI)

CM Stalin also extended a warm welcome to Sunita Williams after her return from the extended expedition in space on March 18 aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

'Sunita Williams, come back to earth. There was news on their health issue, even though they worked in space. The safe return of Sunita news makes us all happy. I appreciate Sunita Williams and thank those who brought them back to earth safely,' Stalin said.

NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov breathed earth's air for the first time in over nine months on Wednesday after the successful splashdown of SpaceX's Dragon capsule in the Gulf of America off the coast of Florida. (ANI)