On Friday (5th July), K Armstrong, the Tamil Nadu chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was hacked to death by six bike-borne attackers near his house in Chennai. Some of the attackers were reportedly dressed as delivery agents and used sharp weapons during the attack. They attacked Armstrong when he was holding discussions with his party functionaries near his house in the city’s Sembium area. Following the attack, they fled the crime scene. Responding to the gruesome killing, BSP Supremo Mayawati demanded “punishment for the guilty”.
Armstrong’s family immediately rushed to the spot where he was lying in a pool of blood with severe injuries to his head and neck. He was taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.
In a statement, the Chennai Police said, “On July 5, evening, while Armstrong (52 years), State President Bahujan Samaj Party, was standing in front of his house at Venugopal Samy Kovil Street, Perambur (K-1 Sembium PS limits), unknown persons assaulted him with knives. Due to the assault, he sustained bleeding injuries, and subsequently police admitted him at Apollo Hospital with the assistance of the passersby. Doctors who examined him declared that he was dead.”
According to the Police officials, this could be a case of revenge killing which could be linked to the murder case of a gangster named Arcot Suresh which took place last year. Speaking with NDTV, a senior police officer said, “We are conducting an investigation. The murder seems to be linked to an earlier killing.”
The Police have formed ten teams and have detained around 8 suspects in this case.
Senior Chennai police officer Asra Garg said, “In the murder case, we have secured 8 suspects so far. This is a preliminary investigation. Ten teams have been formed by us. We are on the job to bring the offenders to light. After the interrogation of these suspects, we will be able to find the motive behind the murder. Some sharp weapons have been used.”
#WATCH | Chennai: On murder of Tamil Nadu BSP president Armstrong, Addl COP, Chennai North, Asra Garg says, "In the murder case we have secured 8 suspects so far. This is a preliminary investigation…Ten teams have been formed by us. We are on the job to bring the offenders to… pic.twitter.com/VxdNvh2yUc
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2024
While it is being reported that the attackers posed as food delivery agents, police are yet to confirm this.
K Armstrong was a lawyer by profession. In 2006, he served as a corporation councillor and later became the state president of the BSP next year. He contested from the Kolathur constituency in the 2011 Tamil Nadu assembly elections but lost. Two years ago, he came to the limelight, when he organised a mega rally in Chennai and invited BSP chief Mayawati.
Opposition parties lambasts DMK-led government over the issue of ‘Law and Order’
Reacting to the killing of BSP’s Tamil Nadu Chief, Mayawati condemned the ‘gruesome’ killing and demanded actions. Taking to X, she wrote, “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.”
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.
— Mayawati (@Mayawati) July 5, 2024
BJP Tamil Nadu President, K Annamalai expressed shock and extended his prayers to the bereaved family. He also lambasted the DMK government over the issue of Law and Order and asked the state Chief Minister to introspect whether he has the moral responsibility to continue as the CM of the state.
He emphasised that violence and brutality should not have any place in society but under the DMK regime, it has become a norm.
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.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 5, 2024
Violence & brutality has no place in our…
AIADMK Chief and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Tamil Nadu assembly, Edappadi Palaniswamy said, “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”.
