By Shafee Ahmed Ko, TwoCircles.net,
Chennai: M.P. Rafeeque Ahmed (60), an eminent Urdu and Tamil freelance writer, expired today morning (Saturday 30 January 2010) in Chennai due to massive cardiac arrest. He was one of the Muslims who suffered a TADA detention for 8 years for a bomb blast in Chennai, and eventually acquitted of the charge.
He served as a special honorary correspondent of Rashtriya Sahara (Urdu Edition) published from Bangalore. He was also associated with All India Forum of Muslim Journalists. He was known for bringing out tracks in Tamil, Urdu and English on burning social subjects for free distributions. He was a keen member of Moderate Thoughts in Islam Chennai, and well versed in Quran and Islamic History. He was loved by all sections of society. He is survived by five sons and a daughter.
There was a large assembly of friends from all walks of life besides kith and kin to pay homage in the city before the body was taken to his native town Vaniyambady, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu for the last rites (Janaza).
A condolence meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on 4th February 2010 in Periamet, Chennai by the All India Forum of Muslim Journalists.