Tamil Nadu BSP Chief K Armstrong’s Murder Accused Killed in Police Encounter

On Saturday night, the Tamil Nadu police reported the killing of Thiruvengadam, a history-sheeter, in an encounter near Madhavaram, Chennai. Thiruvengadam was allegedly involved in the murder of K Armstrong, the Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) Tamil Nadu chief. The police stated that Thiruvengadam had been under surveillance for several days before the murder, keeping a constant tab on Armstrong’s activities.

Thiruvengadam, 33, was taken into custody by Sembiam police on July 11 and was interrogated at the Parangimalai Armed Reserve Station. K Armstrong was brutally hacked to death on July 5 by six unidentified men near his residence in Chennai’s Perambur area. The assailants attacked Armstrong with knives, leaving him fatally injured on the road. Despite being rushed to a private hospital, Armstrong was declared brought dead.

Police Statement on Encounter

The police stated that Thiruvengadam and ten others were taken into custody for their involvement in the BSP leader’s murder. According to the police, Thiruvengadam was being transported to retrieve a weapon from his stay place in Manali. During the journey, he attempted to escape under the pretense of a nature call. He was surrounded at Vegetarian Village near Puzhal but opened fire on the police. An officer fired back in self-defense, injuring Thiruvengadam. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

The police noted that Thiruvengadam had a criminal history, including two murder cases, a robbery, and five brutal attack cases.

Opposition Questions Encounter

Opposition parties have raised doubts over the encounter. Former Chief Minister and Opposition leader Edapadi K Palanisamy questioned the encounter, pointing out inconsistencies in the police’s account. He suggested that Thiruvengadam, who had surrendered, should have been handcuffed during transit. Palanisamy’s statement highlighted that the incident raised suspicions about the police’s actions.

Tamil Nadu Congress leader Karthi Chidambaram labeled the incident as an ‘extra judicial killing,’ criticizing it as poor policing and likening it to a contract killing. Chidambaram’s post on X (formerly Twitter) tagged the Tamil Nadu police and the chief minister’s office, calling for accountability.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai echoed these concerns. He noted that Thiruvengadam’s alleged attempt to escape after surrendering was suspicious. Annamalai suggested that the involvement of three DMK members in Armstrong’s assassination might have led to a cover-up attempt. He demanded a fair and expeditious investigation into Armstrong’s murder, urging the DMK government to ensure justice.

So far, at least 11 suspects have been arrested in connection with the case. The incident has sparked a significant political outcry in the state, with opposition parties targeting the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government, alleging a law and order failure.

BSP supremo Mayawati has demanded a CBI probe into Armstrong’s murder, claiming that those arrested were not the real culprits. She urged Chief Minister Stalin to refer the investigation to the central agency to ensure justice for Armstrong.

In response, Chief Minister Stalin visited Armstrong’s family, assuring them that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. He conveyed his condolences and sympathies to Armstrong’s wife and other family members, promising that all involved in the murder would be punished according to the law.