Crime in Tamil Nadu has been escalating daily, with history-sheeters, rowdies, and land-grabbing gangs brazenly committing murders, making such violence disturbingly commonplace. This surge in crime comes even as the DMK government claims a decline in criminal activities compared to the previous year.
What was once limited to hardened criminals has now expanded to include college students and even minors, who have been arrested for their involvement in gang-related murders. This alarming trend has instilled fear among residents and given rise to concerns from opposition parties. However, instead of taking decisive action to curb these violent incidents, the government and police appear more focused on silencing dissenting voices. Many have accused law enforcement of prioritizing the arrests of activists and opposition leaders critical of the ruling party rather than tackling the growing criminal menace.
Is Tamil Nadu facing a law and order crisis? Recent gruesome murders across multiple districts—many carried out in broad daylight suggest that the state has not just approached a crisis but has already crossed that threshold. If stringent action is not taken immediately, the situation may spiral beyond control. Below are some of the shocking incidents that have taken place in recent days.
Murder Of Retired SI Zakir Hussain Bijli
A retired police officer Zakir Hussain who previously served in the security wing of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was brutally murdered in Tirunelveli. The police have launched an investigation into the incident.
Zakir Hussain Bijli (58), a resident of Totti Balatheru in Tirunelveli, was a Muttawalli (caretaker of Waqf property) of the Murdeen Jahan Taikka descendants. Zakir Hussain, a retired assistant inspector, had served in the Tamil Nadu police for 25 years before opting for voluntary retirement. Notably, he was part of former CM Karunanidhi’s security team and later worked under current CM M.K. Stalin when the latter was Chennai’s Mayor and Minister for Rural Development & Local Administration.
On the morning of 18 March 2025, while returning home after offering prayers at the Samiya Thaika mosque during Ramzan fasting, Zakir was attacked near the Town Kajah Beedi office. Unknown assailants, armed with sickles, fatally struck him on the head before fleeing the scene. He succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
Police officials arrived shortly after being informed and have since been reviewing CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators. Two individuals have surrendered in connection with the crime, while further investigations continue. Zakir Hussain is survived by his wife Ajines Nisha, son Isir Rahman (working in Malaysia), and daughter Mosiza Piyas.
Motive Behind Murder
Authorities suspect that a long-standing land dispute over a Waqf land may have played a role in the killing. Reports indicate that Zakir had ongoing tensions with a local youth, Toufiq, who had converted to Islam and was allegedly involved in a dispute over a 30-cent waqf property. Zakir had previously been arrested under the Protection of Civil Rights (PCR) Act and Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act concerning this matter but was out on bail. The disagreement escalated as Zakir had been actively gathering details related to the property. Both Zakir and Toufiq had previously lodged complaints against each other over the land issue.
The dispute is said to have stemmed from a plot of land adjacent to Zakir’s property, which was owned by Toufiq’s wife. Zakir allegedly occupied the land, asserting that it was Waqf property, whereas Toufiq’s family maintained that it had been privately gifted to her by her mother. The conflict intensified over time and is believed to have culminated in Zakir’s murder.
The police confirmed that Zakir had built a shed on the disputed land, leading to legal cases between both parties. Officials also revealed that a case was registered against Zakir in January 2025. The murder is being treated as a result of the prolonged civil dispute over the property.
The police are investigating whether the attack was linked to this dispute or had other motives. The incident has heightened tensions in the Tirunelveli Town and Pettai areas, prompting heavy police deployment.
Following his murder, a February 2025 video recorded by Zakir resurfaced, in which he claimed his life was in danger. In the video, Zakir alleged that around 20 to 30 individuals were threatening him, singling out Toufiq as the primary instigator. He accused Toufiq of using his conversion for financial gain, alleging that he had married a woman after pressuring her to divorce her first husband to acquire land. Zakir also accused two police officers—Inspector Gopalakrishnan and Sub-Inspector Senthil Kumar—of ignoring his complaints and enabling threats against him.
Following the broad daylight murder of the former SI, his son, Ijur Rahman Bijli, released a video claiming that unidentified individuals were monitoring his home and that he could be the next target. His statement sparked outrage and widespread concern.
Murder Of Former GCC Staff & DMK Union Leader Kumar
A 71-year-old retired Chennai Corporation employee and DMK-affiliated union leader, Kumar from Ayanavaram, was brutally murdered over a land dispute involving property worth several crores.
The primary suspect, Urappakkam Ravi, along with two accomplices, allegedly kidnapped Kumar, strangled him inside a moving vehicle, and later buried his body in a cashew grove in the Gingee forest area of Viluppuram district.
Kumar, who had previously served as a personal assistant to former DMK MP C. Kuppusamy, was managing a prime plot of land near Chennai’s ECR Road on behalf of a relative residing in Mumbai. The dispute arose when Ravi, a local land broker, allegedly forged documents to claim ownership. Following Kumar’s police complaint, authorities in Tambaram confirmed the rightful ownership of his relative, which reportedly enraged Ravi and prompted his violent retaliation.
On 16 March, Ravi persuaded Kumar to meet him in Tambaram under the guise of discussing the land issue. Kumar, who traveled from Ayanavaram by auto, met Ravi and his two associates near the bus stand. They forced him into a car and drove along the Chennai-Tiruchy National Highway. Near Chengalpattu, a heated argument ensued, leading to Kumar being assaulted and strangled with a rope. The suspects transported his body to Gingee, buried it in a secluded area, and returned to Urappakkam.
When Kumar failed to return home, his family filed a missing person report with Tambaram police. Investigators traced his last phone activity, revealing his final contact with Ravi. Upon interrogation, Ravi admitted to the murder and disclosed the burial site. Based on his confession, the police arrested Ravi and later apprehended his accomplices, Senthilkumar and Vijay, in Poonamallee. Authorities are continuing the investigation to determine if additional suspects were involved.
This case underscores the growing issue of land disputes, document forgery, and violent conflicts in Chennai’s rapidly developing outskirts.
Revenge Killing: Brutal Murder Of John In Salem
Yet another shocking act of violence in Salem, a known history-sheeter was brutally murdered in broad daylight on the Salem-Nasiyanur highway while traveling with his wife. The horrific attack, captured on camera, showed bystanders frozen in fear as the assailants ruthlessly hacked him to death.
The victim, 35-year-old Chanakya, also known as John, was a resident of Periyapalayam in Tiruppur. He had multiple criminal cases registered against him in several Salem police stations and was engaged in vehicle sales and loan services.
On 19 March 2025, after attending an inquiry at the Annadhanapatti police station, John was on his way home when a car started tailing him. As he neared Nasiyanur, the vehicle rammed into his car from behind, forcing him to a stop.
Four armed men emerged, dragged his wife Saranya aside, and launched a vicious assault, slashing John repeatedly with machetes. Despite Saranya’s desperate cries for help, the attackers showed no mercy, leaving John dead on the spot before fleeing the scene.
Sithodu police rushed to the location, transported John’s body to Perundurai Government Hospital for postmortem, and launched an investigation. The police soon tracked down three suspects—Sarish, Saravanan, and Bhoopalan—who were intercepted, shot, and arrested. The fourth accused, Karthik, was later apprehended.
Ironically, this incident occurred just as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin addressed the Legislative Assembly on 20 March 2025, stating that the state had recorded 1,540 murders in 2024—the lowest annual count in the past 12 years. He credited this decline to the effective measures implemented by the police department.
Chennai Double Murder Linked To Ganja Trade Dispute
In yet another revenge killing in Chennai, a gang led by Sukku Kaapi Suresh brutally murdered Arun Kumar (25) and Padappai Suresh (25) on the night of 16 March 2025. The killings were the culmination of an ongoing feud between Arun Kumar and Sukku Kaapi Suresh over the latter’s alleged involvement in recruiting minors to sell ganja, which had previously led to violent confrontations between them.
The conflict took a darker turn in 2022 when Arun Kumar’s partner, Shahinshah—a widow and mother of two—was found strangled to death in her Kelambakkam residence. Suspecting Sukku Kaapi Suresh’s hand in the murder, Arun Kumar had vowed revenge. However, before he could act, Sukku Kaapi Suresh preemptively orchestrated his assassination along with that of his friend.
Following the double murder, police launched an extensive investigation, leading to the arrest of Sukku Kaapi Suresh and seven others on 17 March. On 21 March, authorities apprehended two more individuals—K. Anand of Kottivakkam and M. Karthik for assisting the main accused. The ongoing probe has resulted in a total of 14 arrests so far, including four minors allegedly involved in the crime.
Brutal Murder of Vasool Raja in Kancheepuram
In a crime reminiscent of the recent Salem murder, a 30-year-old man with a criminal history was brutally killed in Kancheepuram after a gang targeted him with a country-made bomb on 11 March 2025.
Vasool Raja, a resident of Poyyakulam, had an extensive criminal history with over 20 cases related to robbery, theft, and attempted murder across multiple police jurisdictions. Recently out on bail, he had been working as a travel agent.
Around 1 p.m., while waiting outside a ration shop near Thirukkali Medu Shiva Temple, he was ambushed by unidentified attackers. A country-made bomb struck his chest and exploded on impact, killing him instantly.
Following the incident, Kancheepuram Taluk police transported his body to the Government Kancheepuram Hospital for an autopsy. Authorities launched a full-scale investigation, assigning a special police team led by two Assistant Deputy Superintendents to track down the perpetrators.
Analyzing CCTV footage from the crime scene, investigators identified key suspects. By Friday, a special police team arrested five college students—Raman, Siva, Dhilip Kumar, Surya, and Suresh—near Thirumalpur railway station.
Further operations led to the arrests of Zaheer Hussain and Sulthan at Iyappettai bus stop, followed by Mohana Sundaram, Manimaran, and Saran Kumar on 22 March. Police reported that four of the accused sustained fractures while attempting to evade capture. Officials are still searching for two more suspects.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Zaheer Hussain orchestrated Vasool Raja’s murder as an act of revenge for the 2018 killing of his uncle, Niwas Khan, in which Raja was a prime suspect. All arrested individuals were presented before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.
Dravidian Model Law & Order Crumbling
The escalating crime wave in Tamil Nadu paints a grim picture of law and order in the state. From politically connected murders to gang rivalries and land disputes ending in brutal killings, the rising violence has instilled fear among residents and exposed the apparent failure of law enforcement. Despite the government’s claims of reduced crime rates, the ground reality tells a different story—one where criminals operate with impunity while authorities focus more on political crackdowns than public safety. If swift and decisive action is not taken, Tamil Nadu risks further descending into lawlessness, where violence becomes the norm rather than the exception.
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