The four-member gang who allegedly killed an atheist man on late Thursday night near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu committed the crime because they were angered by a whatsapp group administered by the victim, the investigating team has found.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the police officers investigating the murder of H Farook have said the gang wanted him to shut down the WhatsApp group that had about 400 Muslims members. Most of these members were inspired by the rationalist ideology advocated by Periyar.

31-year-old Farook had got members from various districts on Tamil Nadu in his whatsapp group. According to the report, he had posted a photo in the group earlier in the month where one of his children was seen holding a placard with the handwritten slogan “Kadavul illai, Kadavul illai, Kadavul illai (No God, No God, No God)”.

According to police, the attackers had warned him on phone and in person to “stay away from anti-religious activities”.

“More than his rational arguments, they felt that taking such public positions using children was a threat to Islam,” the report quoted an officer.

The police are in look out for the four accused.

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