Aswathaman, a former Tamil Nadu Youth Congress leader, reportedly admitted to his involvement in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party state president K. Armstrong over personal grievances, including political disputes and Armstrong’s interference in land matters. His father, Nagendran, a life convict, refused to cooperate with authorities. Both were sent to their respective prisons from the police custody.
While the investigation uncovers disturbing evidence of organised crime in Tamil Nadu, there has been little to no coverage in the media channels known for their Dravidianist leanings.
Father-Son In Prison
Aswathaman, a former State General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Youth Congress and a practising lawyer spent four days in police custody. At the same time, his father, Nagendran, a life convict, was held for three days. Both have returned to Poonamallee Jail and Vellore Central Prison, respectively.
During the investigation, Aswathaman revealed his connection to Armstrong and allegedly admitted to his involvement in the plot to murder him. He claimed that his agreement to Armstrong’s killing stemmed from personal grievances, including Armstrong’s interference in land disputes. Armstrong also instigated a police complaint against him and falsely included Nagendran in a separate murder case.
Nagendran has refused to cooperate with the police. However, Aswathaman, despite initially claiming friendship with Armstrong, has disclosed that he was motivated by several issues, including a belief that Armstrong jeopardised his political future. According to Aswathaman, he was approached by Arul with the murder plan and, after discussing it with his father, consented to the act in hopes of resolving these personal conflicts.
In the broader context of the investigation, several individuals linked to the case, including five lawyers, have been arrested. Police are still seeking Sambo Senthil, a suspect believed to be in Thailand. The investigation is ongoing, with the police recording statements and scrutinising connections to the murder.
Investigations
On 14 August 2024, the Egmore Magistrate Court authorised the police to question Aswathaman regarding unresolved aspects of the 5 July 2024 murder. Then the police transported Aswathaman to the anti-gangster squad office in Pudupet, where he was interrogated about his involvement in the conspiracy to kill K Armstrong. To date, 22 individuals have been arrested concerning the case, including Ponnai Balu, the brother of gangster Arcot Suresh, and their cousin, lawyer Arul.
Additionally, K. Thiruvengadam, a suspect in the murder, was shot dead by the police during an early morning encounter. The investigation into Armstrong’s murder has uncovered disturbing evidence of kangaroo courts operating in the city. The motive behind the murder is linked to Armstrong’s growing influence and efforts to curb his power. Aswathaman, a close associate of TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai, is among those arrested for the murder of K Armstrong.
Bahujan Samaj Party President Armstrong
K Armstrong was brutally murdered on 5 July 2024 evening near Perambur in Chennai. He was attacked by a gang of six assailants while chatting with friends and supporters near his residence. The attackers, armed with machetes and sickles, threatened anyone who tried to intervene, causing Armstrong’s friends to flee. His family rushed to the scene upon hearing his cries. They found him grievously wounded and lying in a pool of blood. They quickly took him to a nearby private hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The police are exploring the possibility of a rivalry with a criminal from North Chennai, currently incarcerated, as a motive for the murder. In August 2023, Arcot Suresh and his associate Madhavan were assaulted by a gang near Pattinampakkam in Chennai.
During the incident, Arcot Suresh tragically lost his life, while Madhavan survived. Five months later, Madhavan died in another attack by a separate gang. Ponnai Balu, the brother of Arcot Suresh, has been implicated in the murder of BSP leader Thennarsu back in 2015. His other brother, known as bomb Saravanan, is suspected in the murder of Arcot Suresh last year, according to police sources.
Currently, Ponnai Balu is accused in the murder case of BSP leader Armstrong. He is the sibling of Arcot Suresh, a notorious criminal who was slain by a rival gang in Chennai the previous year. Chennai police have arrested Arcot Balu, along with seven others, in connection with Armstrong’s murder, a senior police official confirmed.
Armstrong, a lawyer, had a troubled past with previous criminal cases, though his legal troubles reportedly ceased a decade ago. So far, 22 people have been arrested by the police in connection to the crime.
Despite the gravity of the revelations surrounding the murder of K. Armstrong, Dravidianist media stays silent. This silence raises questions about their selective reporting of issues that challenge their narrative.
(With inputs from OneIndia)
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