BSP Leader K Armstrong’s Tragic Death Sparks Protests in Chennai

Supporters of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)’s Tamil Nadu unit president K Armstrong gathered outside the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital Mortuary in Chennai, raising slogans and demanding the arrest of the culprits. They expressed distrust in the Tamil Nadu government and called for a CBI inquiry into the murder. They also sought the resignation of Chief Minister M K Stalin.

Heavy police force was deployed at the hospital premises, with senior police officers present. Armstrong was hacked to death by a mob of unidentified men near his residence in Perambur, Chennai, on Friday evening. His body was brought to the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital Mortuary for an autopsy. Shops and business establishments in the vicinity closed, and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses suspended their services.

The Chennai police have deployed heavy security outside the hospital. They have secured eight suspects so far and formed a special team to investigate the case. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), North Chennai, Asra Garg, stated, “In the murder case, we have secured 8 suspects so far. This is a preliminary investigation…Ten teams have been formed by us. We are on the job to bring the offenders to light. After the interrogation of these suspects, we will be able to find the motive behind the murder…Some sharp weapons have been used…”

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP chief Mayawati condemned the killing, asking the state government to “punish the guilty.” She said, “The gruesome killing of K. Armstrong, Tamil Nadu state Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president, outside his Chennai house is highly deplorable and condemnable. An advocate by profession, he was known as a strong Dalit voice in the state. The state Govt. must punish the guilty.”

AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami also criticized the ruling DMK party over Armstrong’s death, questioning the state’s law and order situation.