Tamil Nadu BSP president Armstrong hacked to death in Chennai

CHENNAI: In an audacious attack in the State capital that raised serious questions about the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, Bahujan Samaj Party's state president K Armstrong (51) was hacked to death in full public view by a six-member gang near his home in Perambur, around 7 pm on Friday.

Two others who were with Armstrong also suffered cut injuries in the attack.

With the murder leading to severe criticisms from various quarters, the State government said later in the night that 10 special teams were formed under Additional Commissioner of Police Asra Garg to nab the suspects.

There are reports alleging that he was murdered by the kin and loyalists of a slain history-sheeter, while other reports have linked the murder to one of the recent multi-crore investment frauds.

Armstrong used to visit his house on Venugopal Swamy Koil Street in Perambur which was being reconstructed. Police suspect that the gang was aware of his visit to the house to oversee the progress and plotted the murder.

According to sources close to Armstrong, there was a threat on his life for the last year or so, due to which he usually travelled with a posse of men and advocates for his protection whenever he went.

The six-member gang which came in two-wheelers accosted Armstrong and attacked him with sharp weapons and fled the scene, leaving behind their weapons at the scene in a hurry, police sources said.

Armstrong was rushed to a private hospital on Greams Road where he was declared as brought dead.

Bereaved family members and noted Tamil film director Pa Ranjith were seen crying inconsolably at the hospital.

Later, Armstrong's body was moved to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) for autopsy. Health department sources said that the medical team have been instructed to complete the procedures at the earliest to ensure the situation does not flare up.

Meanwhile, neighbourhoods surrounding Armstrong's residence in Sembium have been fortified with police presence. Pulianthope Deputy Commissioner I Eswaran and his team are combing the area to trace the suspects involved in the murder.

Armstrong, who has been in active politics since the early 2000s, was elected as a Chennai Corporation Councillor in 2006. He later joined BSP and was made the chief of the party's Tamil Nadu unit after the then president K Selvaperunthagai (the present president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee) was expelled for alleged anti-party activities.

Though there were several allegations and criminal cases against him, Armstrong was held in high regard in the community for his financial support to underprivileged youth to pursue law degree.

Armstrong contested unsuccessfully against Chief Minister MK Stalin in Kolathur constituency in the 2011 assembly elections. Only four months ago, he had celebrated the first birthday of his child.

The murder of the State president of a national party in the city has attracted censure from the political spectrum, with the Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, leading the attack against the government condemning the deterioration of law and order situation. TN BJP President K Annamalai, too, expressed condemnation.