KASARGOD: Tension prevailed in many parts of the district following the murder of a madrassa teacher at Choori late on Monday night. A huge police force has been deployed to prevent the outbreak of any communal violence. The police took into custody 23 men belonging to Indian Union Muslim League and Bharatiya Janata Party. Riyas Moulavi, 34, a native of Madikkeri in Coorg, was found hacked at a room near the Muhayuddin Juma Masjid in Choori by his colleague. He was declared brought dead at the general hospital. Riyas was a teacher at Islathul Islam madrassa, Choori, for nine years.
The IUML declared a hartal in the district on Tuesday. The body was brought home after the post-mortem conducted at the Pariyaram Medical College, Kannur. The move to shift the body from the medical college to his native place irked the IUML and its workers sat in front of the office of the district police chief. North zone DGP Rajesh Dewan rushed to the spot. State police chief Lokanath Behera formed a special team to investigate the murder of Mr Riyas. The team will be headed by Kannur Crime Branch superintendent of police A. Srinivas. Mananthavadi joint SP Jaydev G, Malappuram DCRB DySP M.P. Mohanachandran Nair, and Taliparamba inspector P.K. Sudhakaran will be the team members, said the DGP in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Riyas Moulavi
The police could not establish whether it was personal rivalry or communal hatred that led to the murder. In the absence of Kasargod SP K.G. Simon, Kannur SP G. Siva Vikram is in charge of the probe. “The violence in areas like Chowki, Erial and other areas are preventing the investigation. The police are trying to bring the situation under control. Already, there are attempts to make the issue communal,” said Kasargod CI C.A. Abdul Rahim. Fingerprint experts and dog squad collected evidence from the murder spot. Collector Jeevan Babu K has clamped prohibitory orders in Kasargod assembly constituency for one week, to prevent a flare up of situation. He has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC.
