A day after the brutal killing of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu president Armstrong, who was hacked to death on Friday, eight suspects have been apprehended by the Chennai police. Chennai Additional Commissioner (North) Asra Garg confirmed the arrests, identifying the suspects as Ponnai Bala, Ramu, Thiruvengadam, Thirumalai, Selvaraj, Manivannan, Santhosh, and Arul.
The murder is believed to stem from a case of previous enmity and revenge, linked to the killing of history-sheeter Arcot Suresh in Chennai last year. According to reports, some of the arrested individuals are relatives or associates of Arcot Suresh, including Ponnai Bala, his brother. Allegedly, the motive behind Armstrong’s murder was retaliation for Arcot Suresh’s death, with the suspects believing Armstrong played a role in the earlier crime.
Chennai police are currently interrogating the arrested individuals to determine the exact motive and circumstances surrounding Armstrong’s murder. CCTV footage capturing the assailants fleeing the scene after the attack has surfaced, indicating the planned nature of the crime.
Armstrong was attacked by six unidentified assailants wielding knives near his residence in Chennai’s Perambur area. He succumbed to his injuries despite being rushed to a private hospital. His body has been moved to Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital for postmortem examination.
Reacting to the tragic incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed condolences and assured swift action against the culprits. He tweeted, “BSP state president Armstrong’s killing is shocking and deeply saddening. The police have arrested those involved in the murder. I express my deepest condolences to Armstrong’s family and have ordered the police officers to conduct the case expeditiously and bring the culprits to justice.”
Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader, also condemned the murder, calling it “brutal and abhorrent.” He tweeted, “Deeply shocked by the brutal killing of Thiru Armstrong, the Tamil Nadu Chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and followers.”
In contrast, BJP leader Amit Malviya criticized the Congress and accused it of silence on the issue, attributing it to political dependencies in Tamil Nadu. He tweeted, “Tamil Nadu BSP chief, a Dalit, is hacked to death. Expect third-time fail Rahul Gandhi to maintain radio silence, just like the hooch tragedy, because the Congress depends on the DMK for its relevance in Tamil Nadu.”
BSP chief Mayawati is set to visit Chennai to personally convey her condolences to Armstrong’s family and has demanded strict action from Chief Minister MK Stalin against the perpetrators.
