Tamil Nadu BSP chief killed: ‘Deeply shocked’, says Rahul Gandhi; Mayawati calls Armstrong’s killing ‘horrific’

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said he was shocked by the brutal murder of Thiru Armstrong. He said the Tamil Nadu Congress leaders were in constant touch with the state government to ensure that the culprits were arrested.

Tamil Nadu BSP president K. Armstrong was hacked to death by a group of six bikers outside his residence in Chennai’s Perambur district on Friday.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati has strongly condemned the murder of Tamil Nadu BSP president K. Armstrong on Friday. Mayawati asked the MK Stalin-led state government to punish the culprits.

The BSP leader said Armstrong’s murder was a horrific act as he was a strong voice of Dalits in the state. “The gruesome murder of Tamil Nadu Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) state president MK Armstrong outside his house in Chennai is highly deplorable and condemnable. An advocate by profession, he was known as a strong voice of Dalits in the state. The state government must punish the culprits,” Mayawati posted on X.

Tamil Nadu Opposition leader AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami said he was shocked and saddened by the news of Armstrong’s death. He questioned the law and order situation under the DMK, the ruling party in Tamil Nadu.

“If a national party president is assassinated, what is the point of criticising law and order in the DMK regime? How do criminals find the courage to kill? I strongly condemn the Vidya DMK chief who has taken law and order to such a level that crimes are committed without fear of the police, government or law,” the AIADMK leader wrote.

Edappadi also urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to take strict legal action so that Armstrong’s funeral can take place peacefully.

Chennai police have formed 10 special teams to probe the murder. Earlier, BSP party activists had blocked a road in Chennai to protest Armstrong’s murder, demanding immediate arrest of the accused, ANI reported.

In the 2024 assembly elections, the DMK alliance had won all 39 seats in the state, as well as one seat in Puducherry. The AIADMK had suffered its worst defeat this year.