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“Shameless, Resign”: Brutal Murder Of BSP TN Head Armstrong Triggers Law & Order Crisis, Massive Protest Brings Central Chennai To Halt, Opposition Demands Stalin’s Resignation

The Commune
Armstrong Murder Case: TN Police To File Charge Sheet Soon

K Armstrong, the Tamil Nadu state unit president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), 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, only to find him grievously wounded and lying in a pool of blood. He was quickly taken to a nearby private hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

According to police sources, the gang arrived on three motorcycles around 7 pm, carried out the attack, and fled before supporters could respond. Senior police officials including Deputy Commissioner I Eswaran and Assistant Commissioner Praveen Kumar visited the crime scene. A special investigative team under Sembium Inspector of Police Chiranjeevi has been formed to apprehend the suspects, and security in the area has been tightened to prevent further violence.

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 himself was killed 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 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 by profession, had a troubled past with previous criminal cases, though his legal troubles reportedly ceased a decade ago. He rose to prominence through his association with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, organizing rallies in Chennai and establishing himself as a prominent Dalit leader despite the BSP’s limited influence in Tamil Nadu.

As news came of his murder, his supporters flocked to the streets and slammed the DMK government over crumbling law and order in the state.

In a viral video, a supporter of Armstrong can be heard lashing out at MK Stalin saying “You shameless Stalin!” Another supporter can be heard using vulgar Tamil slangs against the Chief Minister.

“What is the intelligence department doing?”, asks another.

In this regard, Mayawati the National President of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and a four time Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh condemned the incident in her X official account stated, “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 Govt. must punish the guilty.”

In response to the murder, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai condemned the incident, criticizing the law and order situation under the DMK government led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. He expressed shock at Armstrong’s killing and questioned the moral responsibility of the Chief Minister in light of escalating violence in the state over the past three years.

Annamalai in his official X account stated, “Deeply shocked by the news of the brutal murder of the State President of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Thiru Armstrong avl, in Chennai today. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family & the cadres of the Bahujan Samaj Party at this time. Violence & brutality has no place in our society but has become a norm in TN in the last 3 years under the DMK regime. Having left the law & order of the State in shatters, Thiru @mkstalin should ask himself if he has the moral responsibility to continue as the CM of the State.”

The brutal murder has deeply affected society, especially the party workers and supporters, leading to significant protests outside Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers and supporters have blocked Poonamallee High Road, causing traffic congestion, as they demand a CBI investigation into the killing of their state president, Armstrong. He was fatally attacked by an unidentified group of six individuals near his home in Perambur, Chennai. Police efforts are currently focused on locating the perpetrators.

In this regard the Greater Chennai Police have said that, “Armstrong, State President, Bahujan Samaj Party was assaulted by unknown persons with knives at Venugopal Samy Kovil Street, Perambur in Sembium Police station limits, due to previous enmity. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment but succumbed to injuries. 10 teams led by Tr. Asra Garg IPS ACoP North have been formed immediately and traced 8 accused within hours of the incident and arrested them. Police are investigating.”

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