Five held for PMK cadre murder

Five people were on Thursday arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of a 40-year-old catering contractor, who was also a member of the PMK (Pattali Makkal Katchi), near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district.

Police said Mohammad Riaz, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sarbuddin and Mohammad Rizwan (members of PMK) along with Nizam Ali (member of PFI) were picked up and are being questioned. They are likely to be produced before a local court.

The murder triggered tension in the district since it took place a day after the victim, identified as Ramalingam was engaged in an argument with members of a minority community. In a video that has gone viral on the social media, Ramalingam was seen arguing with a member from the Muslim community after the latter had allegedly preached about Islam in a village in the district.

Ramalingam was hacked to death by an unidentified gang after he was way-laid and beaten mercilessly on Wednesday morning. The murder created tension in the district with huge posse of police personnel being posted at Tirubhuvanam town on Wednesday.