Youth sends invite for beef fest, held

According to sources, S Ezhilan (32), a member of Tamil Nadu Kudiyarasu Katchi and resident of Venkatesa Nagar near Chettimadam in Kumbakonam had invited through his Facebook page the public to participate in the beef festival that he was organising. He also had reportedly mentioned that the people should try the beef which would have a different taste.

The incident, however, triggered tension in Kumbakonam as the post went viral since Monday. Subsequently, the villagers had reportedly approached Kallapuliyur VAO Surendran to initiate action against Ezhilan. They also demanded the VAO to book a case against him as it had hurt the sentiments of the people.

Based on a complaint by the villagers, VAO Surendran lodged a complaint with the Kumbakonam Taluk police station against Ezhilan. He also mentioned that Ezhilan’s Facebook post had marred public peace and prompted hatred between the people of two communities. The police, who registered a case against Ezhilan, subsequently arrested him on Tuesday.

It may be noted that Mohammed Faizaan (24), a Muslim who was a diploma holder in Mechanical Engineering and resident of Poravacheri, was reportedly assaulted by a gang of around 10 people on Thursday night soon after he uploaded a picture of him consuming beef soup in an eatery in Nagapattinam on Thursday.

Faizaan said the gang stopped him near a temple at 7.30 pm and assaulted him with lethal weapons. He then reportedly fell unconscious and was found by his friends who rushed him to Nagapattinam Government Hospital.

Following direction from SP TK Rajasekaran, the Kilvelur police then visited Faizaan, who lodged a complaint.

The police then arrested four people after booking them under various sections of the IPC, including 324 (hurting with dangerous weapons), 506 II (criminal intimidation) and 307 (attempt to murder).