A number of organizations have come out demanding support to the family of scrap dealer H Farooq (31) who was recently murdered. Farooq had reportedly posted comments against religious matters in social media. People gathered near the south taluk office here and urged the State Government to compensate his family.

More than 50 members of various organizations, including Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK), Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, Adhithamizhar katchi, Puratchigara Ilaignar Munnani and Dravidar Kazhagam participated in the protest and condemned the murder.

“It is sad to note that a rationalist who believed that people should be ideologists and not religious has been hacked to death by people as a result of intolerance,” said TPDK leader K. Ramakrishnan.

“The Stage Government should immediately give a government job to Farooq’s wife and compensation to the family members,” he urged.

Farooq was hacked to death by a four-member gang near Sungam By-Pass in Coimbatore on Thursday. Though a 31-year-old Islamic activist named Ansath surrendered to the police the next day, police are on the lookout for the rest.