Coimbatore atheist murder case: CCTV camera at witness’s home damaged | Coimbatore News

COIMBATORE: The Peelamedu police in Coimbatore city have registered a case against an unidentified person for damaging a CCTV camera fixed outside the house of a witness in the murder of atheist H Farooq in 2017.
According to sources, a 38-year-old man from Avarampalayam in Coimbatore city was one of the witnesses in the Farooq murder case. He lodged a complaint with the Peelamedu police in Coimbatore city on Friday evening, stating that an unidentified man, who covered his face with a piece of cloth, damaged a CCTV camera outside his house in the early hours of Friday with a steel pipe. Following the complaint, the police registered a case against the unidentified person under sections 324 (4) (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Anti-terrorism squad (ATS) Coimbatore unit officials visited the residence of the witness on Friday evening. The ATS is handling the Farooq murder case, which was registered under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act). The case trial is going on in a sessions court in the city.
As per Section 44 (3) of the UAPA, the court can take measures to protect the witnesses in cases involving terrorism or other unlawful activities. These measures are meant to ensure witness safety and confidentiality. The protected witnesses’ names and other details cannot be revealed.
Around 11.15pm on March 16, 2017, Farooq, an atheist who was into iron scrap business, was hacked to death by six Muslim people on the Pullukadu Road near the corporation slaughterhouse. Police arrested all the six accused. The case was transferred to the ATS. Some of the arrested men threatened one of the witnesses at the combined court complex in November 2024, and an FIR was registered against the accused. Their bail petition was cancelled by the principal district sessions judge court.