The brutal daylight murder of K Armstrong, the state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), near his residence in Perambur, Chennai, has raised serious questions about the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. The incident has prompted sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and sparked fears among the public about safety under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government.
On July 6, Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai condemned the DMK administration, stating, “There is no guarantee for a common man’s life in this DMK-led state government.” Armstrong, a Dalit leader, was hacked to death by a gang of six bike-borne assailants, underscoring the deteriorating security situation. Annamalai’s remarks were made during the BJP’s state executive committee meeting.
The murder of Armstrong, aged 47, debunks the DMK’s claims of championing social justice, particularly for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST). Despite the DMK’s repeated assertions, allegations of caste-based discrimination persist under their administration. Incidents of SC/ST individuals facing segregation, being barred from public and private gatherings, and denied basic rights like hoisting the national flag have been reported.
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Moreover, discrimination in everyday life, such as the “twin tumbler” system where separate glasses are used for SC/ST individuals, continues. SC/ST students in southern Tamil Nadu still face brutal attacks, prompting the state government to form a panel led by retired Madras High Court Justice K Chandru to investigate. However, his recommendations, perceived as anti-Hindu, have sparked controversy.
The Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of 65 people, predominantly from the Dalit community, further highlights the vulnerability of marginalized groups under the current administration. The ruling DMK government, however, continues to boast about their efforts to empower these communities.
INCOMPETENCE thy #MKStalin Govt.
Shame that this has to happen in the Capital City. pic.twitter.com/wEbUi02jWf
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) July 6, 2024
The murder of Armstrong directly challenges these claims. TN BJP Vice President Narayan Tirupathi tweeted, “Continuous murders and hacking of people to death are happening across the state. The old Madras is becoming a city of murders.” He criticized the government’s inability to control crime, citing the rampant drug syndicates and illicit liquor trade.
The police, acting on CCTV footage, have arrested eight suspects, including Selvam, Manivannan, Selvaraj, Ponnai Balu, and others. The brother of a known criminal, Arcot Suresh, is among those detained. Armstrong, an advocate, had a controversial past, including involvement in the High Court complex violence and a pump set motor scam during Mayawati’s rule in Uttar Pradesh.
BJP social media wing functionary Karthik Gopinath demanded the resignation of CM Stalin.
Resign Stalin ! That’s the slogan raised by supporters of slain BSP state president and Dalit leader Armstrong.#கையாலாகாத_ஸ்டாலின் #Resign_Stalin pic.twitter.com/y7mGNpdCnb
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) July 6, 2024
Two of his Armstrong friends are getting treatment for the injuries sustained the during the attack. Based on CCTV footage police arrested eight suspects identified as Selvam, Manivannan, Selvaraj, Ponnai Balu, and four others. The arrested included Brother of lain history sheeter Arcot Suresh.
Armstrong, who organised a rally, contested elections against DMK’s MK Stalin during 2021 state assembly. He was active in issues in North Madras. The attack took place in Sembiam. CM Stalin has told the police to speed up the probe into the murder and arrest those who were involved in the crime. Police sources said, Armstrong had crime history. His name was cropped up in the violence at the high court complex where vehicles were torched, broken. Advocates and judges were injured. Following this, HC area was given to CISF control. Armstrong, an advocate- was involved in the pump set motor scam during the Mayawati rule in Uttar Pradesh and faced probe.
Now the police say he was murdered due to previous enmity between the killer gang as he had threatened them earlier.
Enraged by the murder, his supporters cblocked the roads leading to tension in parts of north Chennai. His supporters gathered on EVR Periyar Road near Rajiv Gandhi Government hospital and staged roadblock agitation on July 6 morning. Traffic was affected in that stretch which is seeing busy traffic always. BSP leader Mayawati is slated to visit to Chennai to pay homage to him on Sunday and console his grieving family. BSP cadres demand CBI probe into the murder.
K Annamalai stated on July 6 that the safety of common citizens is not assured under the DMK rule. “Yesterday, a party leader was hacked to death. There is no guarantee for a common man’s life in this DMK-led state government,” Annamalai said at the BJP’s state executive committee meeting. He said “Illicit liquor is flowing like a river, and nobody has the guts to tell, speak, and raise a voice against it. If they speak and raise voices, they have a life threat”.
