Crimes against women and children, murders, gang wars, chain snatching, burglaries, land grabbing, mineral and sand smuggling, and drug peddling are rampant in Tamil Nadu under DMK rule. Critics point out that the state does not even have a regular Director General of Police (DGP) for law and order. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who holds the Home portfolio, is currently on tour in Germany and England to attract investments.
The Tamil Nadu government failed to plan in advance for the appointment of a new DGP. Instead, it created a new post to accommodate the outgoing DGP, and on his retirement day handed over the law and order responsibility to an officer with additional charge, overlooking seven senior officers in line for the position. Yet the DMK often calls its opponents “undemocratic” and accuses them of violating constitutional norms.
Recent crime incidents starkly reveal the worsening law and order situation in the absence of a full-time DGP.
Attack on Political Rival
Just days after a Dalit municipality staffer was forced to kneel before a woman councillor in Tindivanam, Molotov cocktails were hurled at a Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) town panchayat chairman, who narrowly survived by hiding in a toilet. On September 5, M.K. Stalin, chairman of Aduthurai town panchayat in Thanjavur district and a PMK member who had unsuccessfully contested from Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha constituency, was attacked at the local body office.
According to reports, while Stalin was speaking with visitors, a gang arrived in a car, hurled petrol bombs, and attempted to assault him with lethal weapons. Stalin managed to escape and locked himself in a room. In the melee, two people, Ilaiyaraja and Arun, sustained injuries.
Hearing of the attack, members of Vanniyar Sangam rushed to the spot and staged a protest at the Kumbakonam–Mayiladuthurai Sooriyanarkoil road junction, burning discarded tyres and demanding the assailants’ arrest. PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss and Anbumani Ramadoss issued statements condemning the attack.
In another shocking incident, police arrested two men, lawyer P. Venkatesan (57) and Na. Chellappa, a 57-year-old former Indian Coast Guard personnel, for assaulting police constable Balaji. Balaji had gone to investigate a distress call from a Mogappair resident, Umadevi, on September 3 after her flat’s water connection was disconnected in a dispute over unpaid maintenance charges. Balaji, along with woman constable Manju, was attacked during the inquiry. The assault, caught on CCTV, went viral on social media and sparked widespread condemnation. Critics say this shows that even police are unsafe in Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Maanila Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member G.K. Vasan posted on X: The law and order situation in the state has reached its worst condition, which needs urgent attention. Murders are happening day and night, at any time. Tamil Nadu is in an emergent situation and law and order must be restored.”
தமிழ்நாட்டில் சட்டம் ஒழுங்கு மோசம் – ஜி.கே.வாசன்#GKVasan | #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/IqDebrYpVD
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) September 6, 2025
At another event, a Village Administrative Officer (VAO) exchanged blows with a senior citizen at a Ungaludan Stalin (Stalin With You) outreach programme at Sathur village near Arcot in Ranipet on September 3. The argument erupted over delayed action on a petition filed by Venkatapathi, a senior citizen. PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss condemned the assault by the VAO and sub-inspector on the elderly petitioner.
Meanwhile, the Koyambedu police arrested a DMK functionary and panchayat president for theft. Varalakshmi, 50, of Nerkundram, lost her four-sovereign gold chain while travelling on a bus to a wedding in Kancheepuram. Investigations revealed that her co-passenger, Bharathi (56), president of Naryampattu panchayat in Tirupattur district, had allegedly stolen the chain.
கழக கொள்கையின்படி கொள்ளையடித்த திமுக "பஞ்சாயத்து தலைவர்" கைது😂
ஓடுற பஸ்ஸிலேயே நாலு சவரன் நகர் திருடி இருக்குன்னா….பஞ்சாயத்து தலைவரா இருந்த ஊர்ல எத்தனை கோடி திருடி திண்ணு இருக்கும் ? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/zK4BQUIn0B
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) September 6, 2025
Adding to the chaos, Paraiyar Peravai leader “Airport” Moorthy was attacked by VCK cadres in front of the DGP office itself. The VCK goons, lying in wait, brutally assaulted Moorthy as soon as he alighted from his car. Shockingly, the police present at the spot failed to stop the attack, raising serious concerns over citizen safety even inside the DGP compound.
Indu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath and PMK’s Anbumani Ramadoss condemned the attack, calling it further proof of Tamil Nadu’s deteriorating law and order situation.
டிஜிபி அலுவலக வளாகத்தில் ஏர்போர்ட் மூர்த்தி மீது தாக்குதல் – அன்புமணி ராமதாஸ் கண்டனம்https://t.co/5Ci8pNXk1K#AnbumaniRamadoss #PMK #TNgovt #dailythanthi
— DailyThanthi (@dinathanthi) September 6, 2025
These incidents are only a sample of the broader law and order crisis under DMK rule in Tamil Nadu. Critics argue that Chief Minister Stalin, more interested in distributing freebies and making foreign trips with his family, has neglected his responsibilities as state Home Minister. The delay in appointing a full-time DGP, they allege, is deliberate, as the DMK wants a pliable officer to serve its political interests in the run-up to elections.
