Tamil Nadu has been shaken by consecutive political murders, including the recent brutal killing of K Armstrong, the Tamil Nadu state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). On the evening of 5 July 2024, near Perambur, Chennai, Armstrong was attacked by a gang of six assailants armed with machetes and sickles while conversing with friends and supporters near his home. As a leader from the marginalized community, his murder has stirred significant political unrest in the region.
Authorities have reported the arrest of eight individuals, suggesting a motive of revenge behind the crime. However, several political figures in Tamil Nadu argue that those apprehended are not the actual perpetrators.
Following the incident, BSP chief Mayawati criticized the Tamil Nadu government for lack of seriousness in investigating Armstrong’s murder. She called upon Chief Minister MK Stalin to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), questioning the state’s law and order situation and lamenting the failure to apprehend the main culprits.
Supporting Mayawati’s demand, BJP State president K. Annamalai also urged the state government to hand over the investigation to the CBI to ensure transparency. He emphasized the need for accountability in handling such sensitive cases.
Previously, Thirumavalavan, chief of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and an ally of the ruling DMK, voiced similar concerns, stating that those who surrendered in connection with Armstrong’s murder are not the true perpetrators. He urged the DMK government to swiftly identify and apprehend the actual culprits to prevent damage to its reputation. Thus the murder of K Armstrong has sparked a heated debate and calls for a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.
Amidst rising anger over the spate of political murders, especially the recent killing of a marginalized community’s state president, there has been criticism directed at the ruling DMK government but Kollywood director Pa. Ranjith, known for consistently supporting the DMK’s decisions, once again, has chosen to intervene in the name of condemning the incidents suggested the government should quell dissenting voices on the internet. He portrayed these voices on the internet are portraying Armstrong, who followed the teachings of Buddha, as a troublemaker targeted by the dominant class.
Pa. Ranjith with his official X account stated, “We buried the body of brother Mr. Armstrong, the state president of Bahujan Samaj Party, who was the victim of a cowardly and brutal murder, without any fuss or tension nor causing any law and order problem. In this life after him, we will carry out the politics of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar with more determination even in brother’s absence. That will be our debt of gratitude to brother Mr. Armstrong. Jai Bhim!”
“Here are a few questions regarding this for the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and those who are spreading hatred on social media:
- The murder took place very close to Sembiyam Police Station in Chennai. With this, we can understand the fear of the killers about the law and order in Tamil Nadu. So, what action plan are you going to create to restore law and order and prevent such an incident from happening again?
- The police department has announced that they have done this to avenge the murder of Arcot Suresh based on the confessions given by the assailants who confessed to the murder and surrendered. The police are only interested in closing the case on the basis of what the surrenderers say. Who planned this? Who directed them? Has the police department come to the conclusion that there is no other background for this? What is the police’s position regarding Arudra being behind this? Why are you so indifferent by allowing to surf so many news stories that you don’t know what’s true and what’s false? Why does the media refuse to question this?
- When is the government going to address the recent threat to Dalit people and Dalit leaders? How their safety going to be ensured? If this government has created an environment where it is very easy to kill the great leader who was the bulwark of the Dalit people in the capital, it is scary to think of other rural towns in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government should let us know what plans it has to get rid of this tension and threat.
- It seems that it was deliberately prevented from burying brother’s body in Perambur. At the end of the almost two-day drama, we were forced to bury him in Pottur, a suburban village outside Chennai, unwillingly. Even though the DMK government has the power, it has resorted to the court and said that this area is not included in the law and order system, but this government is doing a huge act of deceit by not allowing him to bury his body in Perampur, where he lived. Surely the question will arise whether this government really cares about Dalit people and Dalit leaders.
- The most important reason for the DMK government to come to power was the votes of the substantial Dalit population is history. Aren’t you aware that Dalits are the biggest supporter of your regime? Or are you knowingly indifferent? I cast my vote to put you in power. It is with that in mind that I pose these questions. Is social justice just for votes?
- The social justice guards and some media were creating an alternative story on the websites, not knowing how to deal with the law and order problem that arose due to brother’s murder, writing judgments on the person that ‘He is a rowdy’, ‘how can killing a rowdy be seen as a law and order problem’, ‘a doer of extortion’, ‘involved in many criminal cases’. What or Who is behind speaking such conjectures before the horror of the murder subsides?
- Dominant class! You call rowdyism when we rise up for the sake of our self-respect. You can satisfy yourself by creating such stories against the one who gave away lakhs of books to all comers, who himself would bring liberation to human society, who promoted Buddhism in the Babasaheb way. But as each of us knows, words cannot describe the upsurge we have received from those who rise up against oppression like Brother Armstrong.
In conclusion, I have been fascinated by the love of my brother since my childhood. After I came to screen, he was always concerned about my growth and safety and kept me in the safety loop. He devoted himself uncompromisingly to the political path of Babasaheb Ambedkar. I consider losing my brother as the biggest setback in my life. His words and thoughts will guide me (us) to fix this. Jay bhim!”
In his so-called criticism statement, Pa. Ranjith seemed to imply that this murder was not condemned by people other than scheduled caste individuals. The social media, news agencies, and all political factions rallied in support of delivering justice in Tamil Nadu, a response unseen before. This incident has captured broad attention across society online, excluding DMK sympathizers. Calls for peace restoration in Tamil Nadu are mounting, with grave concerns over the deteriorating law and order scenario, especially regarding the safety of common citizens, where even a state leader is not immune from such violence.
However, Pa. Ranjith subtly queried the DMK, not about the perpetrators behind the murder after 4 days but the police’s future action plan in his initial statement. In subsequent remarks, he aimed to stifle voices on the internet questioning the government, though paradoxically raised questions about the police’s stance on Arudra’s involvement. Eventually, without directly accusing the DMK due to judicial constraints, he subtly insinuated doubts about the government’s regard for Dalit individuals and leaders. In his final statement, Pa. Ranjith shamefully shifted blame onto ordinary people showing sympathy for the deceased leader, with only DMK supporters defending against accusations that Armstrong was a criminal, to deflect from their party’s law enforcement weaknesses.
Shamefully, Pa. Ranjith refrains from questioning this and instead turns to religious and caste identities, accusing Hindus and the upper caste, stating “Dominant class! You call it rowdyism when we stand up for our dignity,” Who threw support on the front lines stressing the solidarity behind the marginalized leader’s tragic demise.
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