Chennai Mourns BSP Leader Armstrong's Tragic Murder, Arrests Made Within Hours

Chennai: The killers of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) State President K Armstrong were arrested on Friday night itself within hours of committing the shocking crime, Chief Minister M K Stalin said in his message expressing his deep condolences to the deceased leader’s party workers, family members, relatives and friends on Saturday.

He had instructed the police to expedite the investigations into the murder that had shocked and saddened him and also to bring to book the culprits without delay, Stalin said in his message on X.

Several political leaders like VCK general secretary Thol Thirumavalan and Union Minister of State L Murugan paid homage to the body of Armstrong at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, whose premises were bustling with grieving supporters and well-wishers from across political parties since Friday night.

Among the other political leaders who paid tributes to the mortal remains at the hospital were AIADMK leader and former State Minister D Jayakumar and DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth. Top leaders who condoled the death through messages were Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami, BJP State President K Annamalai and founder of the Makkal Needhi Maiam Kamal Haasan.

Thirumavalavam, who also visited Armstrong’s house to console his grieving wife and family members, urged the State government to accede to the demands placed by the office-bearers to the BSP, who reportedly wanted the funeral to be held in a public place and the body to be kept for public viewing at a school. The BSP office-bearers also wanted the CBI to investigate the murder.

Describing the murder as a challenge to the State government and the police, Thirumavalavan wanted the actual culprits behind the murder to be arrested. He said Armstrong faced a threat to life since he involved himself in solving people’s problems and the police failed to provide adequate protection to him.

Founder of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, actor Vijay, said the government should make efforts to ensure that such tragedies did not recur in the State. Law and Order should be maintained without any compromise for the safety of all, he said in his official X page.

TNCC president K Selvaganapathy said he was shocked to hear about a violent gang hacking to death Armstrong, who was working for the welfare of Dalit people in their education and entrepreneurial ventures and in basic infrastructural facilities.

Armstrong had earned the goodwill of the people through his services and it was said that a crime of such gravity had taken place in the State that was seen otherwise as a garden of peace and tranquility. His death was an irreparable loss, he said.

Condolences to the near ones of the BSP State president started pouring from various political party leaders from Friday night itself. PMK founder S Ramadoss said Armstrong was a strong follower of B R Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram and PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss alleged that the Law and Order had collapsed in the State to the extent of a state leader of a recognized national party getting killed.

Several national leaders like BJP president J P Nadda, who said the gruesome murder had angered the entire nation, BJP State president K Anamalai, BJP leader H Raja and State leaders of the CPI, Mutharasan, and CPM, K Balakrishnan, also condoled the death.

Tension gripped the area in front of the general hospital as the supporters of Armstrong tried to block the road for some time in the morning. They were removed from the scene by the police who posted heavy pickets there to maintain law and order. Crowds also gathered at the house of Armstrong in the Perambur area.

BSP president Mayawathi, who condoled the death, is expected to visit Chennai to pay homage to Armstrong personally. It was Armstrong who organized a well-attended BSP rally at Aminjikarai in Chennai in 2008 much to the delight of Mayawathi, who was also present there.