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Political Murders Surge In Dravidian Model Tamil Nadu; 3 Murders In A Single Day

The Commune

Murders have become alarmingly routine in Tamil Nadu, with three political killings recently occurring across the state. The opposition leaders are outraged, delivering sharp criticism towards the ruling DMK government and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister MK Stalin. Their anger stems from a campaign promise Stalin made before the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where he assured that “Law & Order would be under my direct control. Those who do wrong will be punished.” Since the DMK came to power, Tamil Nadu has experienced a troubling increase in brutal murders, often fueled by caste or political conflicts. These incidents have sparked intense criticism from politicians and the public, arguing that the DMK government has failed to uphold law and order effectively.

BJP Functionary Murdered

On 28 July 2024, unknown men brutally attacked a BJP worker from Velangulam village near Sivaganga. Selvakumar, 53, the Sivaganga district secretary for the BJP cooperative wing, operated a brick kiln in the same area. Yesterday, as he was riding his two-wheeler on the Sivagangai Ilayangudi road, he was ambushed by assailants who attacked him with sharp weapons, leaving him dead before fleeing the scene.

Villagers who discovered Selvakumar’s body lying in a pool of blood were horrified and quickly notified the 108 (ambulance) service and the police. Emergency responders arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. In response to the murder, the villagers became enraged and began blocking the road, causing delays in transporting the body for a post-mortem examination. Police attempted to calm the situation, but the crowd persisted in their protest, demanding the arrest of the perpetrators.

District Superintendent Dongare Pravin Umesh eventually arrived and addressed the protesters. He assured the protestors that his team would work seriously to apprehend the culprits. This promise led the public to disperse.

The police recovered the body and sent it to Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The police have opened an investigation into the murder and are actively pursuing leads to identify and arrest those responsible.

AIADMK Functionary Murdered

Unknown men brutally murdered an AIADMK functionary near Puducherry during the early hours of 28 July 2024. Padmanapan, 48, a painter and the president of AIADMK’s 25th Ward in Cuddalore, was attacked while returning from a temple festival at Tiruppanambakkam near Bagur. After attending the Koothu and Karkatam performance on Saturday night, Padmanapan and his friend, Ranga (57), a cultural artist, were riding a motorcycle back to Cuddalore.

As they neared the Irulansandai drinking water tank near Bagur, a car came from behind and collided with their bike, causing them to fall. The occupants of the car then came out, fatally attacked Padmanapan with a knife and left him dead at the scene. Puducherry South Superintendent of Police Bhaktavachalam and Bagur Police Inspector Sajith investigated the scene. They sent Padmanapan’s body to Puducherry Katirkamam Government Hospital for an autopsy. Following an FIR, an extensive investigation into the murder is underway.

Initial findings suggest that the murder may be linked to a previous dispute. In 2023, during a ceremony in Cuddalore, Padmanapan had a conflict with Baskar, who was later attacked and died. Padmanapan and others were arrested and imprisoned in connection with Baskar’s death, but they received bail in November 2023. The police have arrested two suspects in the recent murder and are continuing their investigation.

Congress Functionary Murdered

Jackson, a 38-year-old resident of Kunnathu Vilai in the Thiruvattaru area of Kanyakumari district, was a former president of the Thiruvattaru City Youth Congress and currently ran a tempo traveller. He is married to Usha Kumari, the 10th Ward Congress Councilor for Thiruvattaru Municipality.

On 28 July 2024, Jackson was standing near a church when two motorcycles approached, carrying six individuals. They engaged him in conversation, which quickly escalated into an argument. The group then attacked Jackson with knives they had concealed, seriously injuring him. He fell to the ground, bleeding heavily and screaming in pain. Neighbours who heard his cries rushed to the scene, but the attackers fled swiftly on their motorcycles. Residents attempted to pursue the assailants without success. They took Jackson to Asaripallam Government Hospital for initial treatment and then to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Despite intensive medical efforts, he tragically passed away early this morning.

The murder of the councillor’s husband has shocked the Thiruvattaru community. District Superintendent of Police Sundaravathanam and DSP Udaya Suryan conducted an investigation and discovered that a group led by Rajkumar (32) from the Punnai vilai Vellamcode area were responsible for this murder. The dispute between Rajkumar and Jackson had originated six months ago over an alcohol-related argument, which had previously led both parties to file complaints with the Tiruvattar police. Authorities suspect this past conflict may have motivated the murder.

Usha Kumari has filed a complaint with the Tiruvattar police, stating that Jackson had left on his motorcycle to buy fruit for their children. On his way, he stopped at the St.Antony’s Church near Bharatha Palli to pray. Rajkumar and his five accomplices attacked Jackson after he left the church. Inspector Seethalakshmi and the police have opened a case and are investigating. The police also collected CCTV footage from the area as part of the ongoing investigation.

Other Recent Murders In Tamil Nadu

Let us take a look at the other murders that occurred recently in Tamil Nadu.

Bahujan Samaj Party President Armstrong

Recently, 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. 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.

Scheduled Caste Activist Deepak Raja 

Deepak Raja (30), a Dalit figure and history-sheeter, was fatally attacked in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, on 20 May 2024 by an unidentified gang of six persons in broad daylight near a restaurant in Palayamkottai’s KTC Nagar. After the gang attacked him, Raja succumbed to his injuries immediately. The Palayamkottai police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under multiple sections of the law, including provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Deepak Raja had a history of several pending cases against him. In response to the incident, City Police Commissioner Pa Moorthy has assembled six specialized teams to apprehend the perpetrators. Police arrested eight individuals in connection with the crime, and efforts are ongoing to locate others involved.

AIADMK Functionary Shanmugam

In the late hours of 3 July 2024, a 62-year-old AIADMK functionary, M Shanmugam, was tragically murdered in Dhadagapatti, Salem. Shanmugam, who served as the AIADMK branch secretary, was attacked while returning home near the Dhagapatty Mariamman temple area. According to police reports, he sustained severe injuries and died on the spot.

Following a complaint by Shanmugam’s wife, Parameshwari, the police swiftly arrested DMK Ward 55 councillor Dhanabhagiyam, her husband Sathish, and 12 others in connection with the murder. Initially, Shanmugam’s family members and residents prevented police from moving his body, demanding immediate action against the suspects.

Speaking to the media, Shanmugam’s wife, S Parameshwari, alleged that her husband was targeted due to his efforts against illegal lottery and drug sales in the area. She claimed that Shanmugam had previously filed complaints with the Annadhanapatty police station, seeking action against those involved. Parameshwari accused Sathish and Dhanabhagiyam of involvement in the attack. Later that evening, police arrested a total of 14 individuals, including the couple. To investigate the case thoroughly, Salem Commissioner of Police Vijayakumari has formed five special teams dedicated to uncovering the truth behind Shanmugam’s murder.

Congress Functionary Jeyakumar Dhanasingh

The charred body of KPK Jeyakumar Dhanasingh, the District Congress president of Tirunelveli East, was discovered at his farm on 4 May 2024. His son, Karuthaiah Jafrin, reported him missing to the Uvari police two days earlier, expressing concern about his father’s absence since Thursday.

Jeyakumar’s sudden and mysterious death has sparked widespread shock and outcry throughout Tamil Nadu, prompting leaders from various political parties to demand swift justice for what they described as Jeyakumar’s ‘murder’. Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation to determine whether Jeyakumar’s death was a result of foul play or a tragic suicide.

BJP Functionary Jagan Pandian

In another tragic incident, Jagan Pandian, the Tirunelveli BJP general secretary known for his active participation in public affairs and real estate ventures, was hacked to death near his residence in the Moolikulam area adjacent to Palaiyankottai in the Nellai district.

The unfortunate incident occurred yesterday (30 August 2023) as Jagan Pandian returned home on his two-wheeler after concluding his daily work. After parking his vehicle near his residence, he was standing beside a nearby canal when unidentified assailants attacked him, inflicting fatal injuries before fleeing the scene. Neighbours who rushed to the spot upon hearing Jagan’s cries discovered him lying lifeless in a pool of blood.

The local police arrived at the crime scene, recovered the body, and dispatched it to the Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Following an FIR, investigators began reviewing CCTV footage from the vicinity. They also brought a sniffer dog named Barani to aid the investigation. Over a hundred police personnel ensured security while officials launched a comprehensive probe into the incident.

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