Tirunelveli town inspector Gopalakrishnan was suspended by the Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday, March 19, in connection with the murder of retired police officer-turned-activist Zakhir Hussain. The Tirunelveli City Police, who are leading the investigation, have also recommended action against former Tirunelveli Town Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Senthil Kumar.
Zakhir Hussain Bijli was an activist known for pursuing legal cases against the encroachment of Waqf land in the town. In a Facebook video posted in 2025, he alleged that the police were colluding with individuals who were issuing death threats to him and that the police department was refusing to take proper action.
Zakhir had been legally fighting a man named Mohammed Thoufiq and his wife, Noorunisa, over allegations that they had encroached on 36 cents of Waqf land using falsified documents. The case was pending before the Waqf tribunal. He had also claimed that he was receiving threats from Thoufiq and Noorunisa. In his video, Zakhir alleged, “Both the Tirunelveli town inspector Gopalakrishnan and ACP Senthil Kumar are responsible for encouraging Thoufiq and his group to murder me.”
On March 18, Zakhir was returning home on his bike after offering Fajr (morning prayers) when he was waylaid by a four-member armed gang and hacked to death, according to police. Hours after Zakhir died, two men surrendered at the Tirunelveli criminal magistrate court. However, their identities and any potential links to the crime have not yet been disclosed.
On March 19, police tracked Thoufiq to Reddiapatty in Perumalpuram and arrested him. Before the arrest, Thoufiq allegedly attacked Head Constable Anand with a sickle, prompting the police to open fire.
Zakhir was one of the administrators of the Murtim Zarkhan Dargha, and served as the Mutawalli (a person in charge of managing a Waqf property) of a property in Tirunelveli town. He was also previously part of the late TN Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s security detail.