In a gruesome incident, extremists believed to be from the Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), murdered Ramalingam, a 45-year-old Pattali Makkal Katchi activist at Thirupuvanam town in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu late on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred within hours of a video featuring the stand-off between Ramalingam and some of the Islamist activists went viral all over the State.

Ramalingam could be heard in the video questioning and objecting the PFI activists’ efforts to convert the people of his locality into Islam.

“Within hours of the argument, a group of people barged into the residence of Ramalingam and attacked him with knives and swords. They chopped one of his hands and a leg,” said a local resident who did not want his name to be quoted.

Dr S Ramadoss, leader of the PMK condemned the act and asked the Government of Tamil Nadu to arrest the culprits behind the heinous crime. Office of the deputy superintendent of police, Thiruvidai-maruthur, under whose jurisdiction the incident occurred refused to reveal any information citing absence of staff.