The general secretary of AIADMK and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami speaks to media persons at Katpadi in Vellore on July 14, 2024
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The general secretary of AIADMK and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday, July 14, 2024 said that the killing of K. Thiruvengadam, one of the 11 persons involved in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader K. Armstrong, in a police firing incident looks suspicious as the police team seems to have not taken adequate security measures before taking a murder accused to his possible hideout.

While speaking to journalists at Katpadi here, Mr. Palaniswami said that there are certain standard procedures that need to be followed while taking accused out of custody. Handcuffs of the accused and an adequate police team in such an operation are among them. “Based on media reports, it seems the police firing incident shows that standard procedures were not adhered to by the police. Also, the slain accused had himself surrendered to the police after the murder. With all these events in the backdrop, the incident (police firing) looks suspicious,” he said.

Mr. Palaniswami’s response comes hours after murder accused Thiruvengadam, who is involved in three murders, was taken to a hideout where he claimed he had stashed the weapons used for the Armstrong murder near Madhavaram (Chennai) at around 5.30 a.m. on Sunday. “In fact, family members of Armstrong and his BSP cadres were demanding the State government to arrest people who are truly behind the murder. Also, what was the urgency of the police to take the murder accused early in the day to his hideout without proper security measures in place?,” he asked.

Cauvery water

On Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s assertion that the State was not in a position to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK general secretary said that the Supreme Court has clearly said in its orders earlier that a certain quantum of water from Cauvery river should be released by Karnataka to lower riparian States like Tamil Nadu every month. However, Karnataka never did it. “Being a member of the INDIA bloc, DMK should pressurize the ruling Congress government in Karnataka to release Tamil Nadu share of Cauvery water,” he said.

Accompanied by former AIADMK Minister K.C. Veeramani, Mr. Palaniswami was here to condole industrialist A.J. Sekar Reddy on the demise of his father at his residence in Katpadi in Vellore.

One of the accused involved in the murder of the Tamil Nadu BSP Chief was killed in an encounter with the police in Chennai late last evening, officials have said. 

Police sources said Thiruvengadam was taken to the spot to recover weapons used in the killing of K Armstrong when he fired at the police officials with the recovered gun.

He was injured in the retaliatory firing and rushed to the hospital. “He was declared brought dead by the doctors,” officials said.

K Armstrong was hacked to death by six bike-borne men near his house in Chennai earlier this month.

The six men attacked Armstrong when he was having a discussion with a few party functionaries near his house in the city’s Sembium area and then fled. The family rushed him to a hospital, but he was declared brought dead.

Thiruvengadam was one of the suspects arrested allegedly for K Armstrong’s murder.

A lawyer, Armstrong was elected to the Chennai Corporation Council in 2006. He shot to fame after he organised a mega rally in Chennai two years ago and invited BSP chief Mayawati.

BSP chief Mayawati has demanded a CBI investigation into the attack. “I urge the state government, especially the Chief Minister, to ensure law and order in the state. The weaker sections, in particular, should feel safe. Had the government been serious, the accused would have been arrested. Since that is not the case, we urge the state government to refer the case to the CBI,” she had said.

Chennai:

The body of K Armstrong, BSP’s Tamil Nadu chief who was hacked to death near his Chennai home Friday, cannot be buried at the party’s office in the state capital, the Madras High Court ruled today, upholding the DMK government’s stand.

The court said K Armstrong’s body can be buried in a one-acre privately-owned plot in the adjoining Thiruvalluvar district. It added that the funeral procession taken out by BSP supporters must be held peacefully.

Earlier, the slain BSP leader’s wife K Porkodi had filed a petition in court, seeking its approval to bury the body at the Chennai party office. The petitioners argued that the 2,600 square feet was owned by the BSP.

Additional Advocate General J Ravindran, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, opposed the petition. “It is a residential area. Without going into merits, we have identified three places around 2,000 sq ft each close to the BSP office and their residence that they can choose for burial or memorial, whatever they want,” he said, according to Bar and Bench.

Justice V Bhavani Subbarayan noted that burial is only allowed at pre-notified places and the petitioners would need the state government’s permission.

“We have already passed a government order rejecting their demand as it is a primary residential area, thickly populated, inadequate approach road, and the building itself doesn’t have requisite permissions,” Mr Ravindran said.

Addressing Senior Advocate Chandrasubbu, appearing for K Armstrong’s wife, the judge said, “Sentiment is different, but you cannot make a burial in a residential area as per the rules. That is why I am asking if you can choose another place.

“I understand your emotions but you have to understand what the court is saying. There will be a law and order problem and everyone will suffer then. This area has small lanes. You need a bigger place where thousands of people can gather. If something happens, you will not be responsible, but we all saw what happened in Hathras stampede,” the court said.

Mr Ravindran said that the state government has a “heart, but our hands are tied because we have to go by rules”.

“All of us are with them. We understand at this moment everyone is anguished and angry. But we can’t risk a law and order problem,” the judge added.

The body is currently at the Corporation School Ground in Chennai so that K Armstrong’s supporters can pay tribute.

“I am saying this as a sister and not a judge. Complete the burial at the place that the State is giving now. Later you purchase a bigger area and we can decide on shifting the body there. You can’t keep the body just like that for so many hours,” the court said earlier today.

The petitioner then chose the Thiruvalluvar spot. The local panchayat has made the necessary arrangements. K Armstrong’s family had also said they wanted to build a memorial. The court has asked them to proceed with the funeral and said that they can approach the state government over the memorial later.

After delivering the verdict, the court told the petitioner that it is aware that their loss cannot be compensation. “But also know that the State has been helpful to you.”

“Let him be in peace now. Go support his wife. She has a small baby to take care of. Nobody is against anybody here,” it added.

The 47-year-old state BSP chief was hacked to death by at least six people near his home on Friday evening. Eight suspects have been arrested so far and the city police have ruled out any political angle to the heinous crime.

BSP chief Mayawati has demanded a CBI investigation into the attack. “I urge the state government, especially the CM, to ensure law and order in the state. The weaker sections, in particular, should feel safe. Had the government been serious, the accused would have been arrested. Since that is not the case, we urge the state government to refer the case to the CBI,” she said.

Chennai:

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday demanded a CBI probe into the death of her party’s Tamil Nadu president K Armstrong, who was hacked to death in Chennai on Friday.

She claimed those who have been arrested so far were not the real culprits and urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to refer the probe to the central agency to ensure justice for the victim.

Mayawati, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, paid homage to Armstrong here and placed a wreath before the body of the 52-year-old leader at a private school in Perambur in the city.

Expressing anguish over Armstrong’s death, she also said the way he was killed, by a group of assailants late in the evening, showed “there was nothing called law and order” in the state.

Mr Stalin must ensure justice for Armstrong and transfer the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation, he said.

“The way he was killed, shows there is nothing called law and order in Tamil Nadu. Those who have killed him, the real culprits have not been nabbed,” she said.

“The real culprits have not been nabbed. Transfer the probe to CBI. We are not hopeful that the state government will ensure justice. So, refer the matter to CBI immediately,” she demanded.

The BSP leader further said Dalits all over the state were apprehensive following Armstrong’s killing and urged the Chief Minister to ensure their safety.

The BSP has taken the matter seriously, but party workers should not take law and order into their hands, she said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

Eight men have been arrested for the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party’s Tamil Nadu chief in Chennai, police said on Saturday. K Armstrong was hacked to death by bike-borne men near his house on Friday. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said he has ordered the police to investigate the “shocking” murder “expeditiously”.

“Bahujan Samaj Party State President Armstrong’s assassination is shocking and deeply saddening. The police arrested those involved in the murder overnight. I would like to convey my deepest condolences and condolences to all of Armstrong’s party, family, relatives and friends who are bereaved and I have ordered the police officers to conduct the case expeditiously and bring the culprits to justice as per the law,” he wrote in a post on X.

On Friday, BSP Chief Mayawati said the killing was “deplorable” and called on the state to “punish the guilty”. 

In a post on X, she called Armstrong a “strong voice” of Dalits. “The gruesome killing of Mr K Armstrong, Tamil Nadu state Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president, outside his Chennai house is highly deplorable and condemnable. An advocate by profession, he was known as a strong Dalit voice in the state. The state government must punish the guilty,” she wrote. 

Tamil Nadu opposition has hit out at the ruling DMK over the brazen attack, saying the killing is evidence of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “What do I say when the state chief of a national party is murdered? The law and order is shameful. There is no fear of law or the police,” Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswamy said.

Initial investigation suggests this was a revenge murder linked to the killing of a gangster Arcot Suresh last year. Sources say the suspects in the murder include close relatives and associates of Suresh.

Some reports said the attackers posed as food delivery agents, but police are yet to confirm this.

A lawyer, Armstrong was elected to the Chennai Corporation Council in 2006. He shot to fame after he organised a mega rally in Chennai with BSP Chief Mayawati in 2008. In the past, Armstrong had faced cases including allegations of abduction, but over the years he was acquitted by courts.

Police have formed ten special teams under Additional Commissioner of Police Asra Garg. “We are interrogating. In a few hours, we would share what exactly is the motive” Mr Garg told NDTV.