BSP demands CBI probe, politicians condole death | News from Chennai

CHENNAI: The state committee of the Bahujan Samaj Party on Saturday demanded that the state government hand over the investigation into the murder of its state president K. Armstrong to the CBI.

After the BSP state executive committee meeting in Chennai on Saturday, the party said the people arrested by the police in connection with Armstrong’s murder had no connection with the case and the real killers were at large. “The murder is the result of a failure of the state police intelligence. The ADGP (intelligence) should be transferred immediately and the investigation should be handed over to the CBI,” it said in a press release.

Earlier, Prime Minister MK Stalin expressed shock and grief. He said police officials had been instructed to speed up investigations and bring the killers to book. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on X that he was “deeply shocked” by Armstrong’s brutal killing. The chief minister expressed his condolences to family, friends and supporters and expressed confidence that the government would ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice quickly.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that law and order in the state had deteriorated under the DMK government and Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai said heinous crimes like murders have been commonplace in Tamil Nadu since the DMK came to power in 2021.

Kamal Haasan of MNM said Armstrong’s death was a great loss for the marginalized community.

AMMK’s TTV Dinakaran called it a “failure” of the state intelligence agency, while NTK leader Seeman questioned the security of the state’s people as there was no guarantee for the life of a political leader.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chairman K. Selvaperunthagai said Armstrong played a crucial role in educating the marginalized by providing them with educational and self-employment opportunities and ensuring provision of basic amenities.

Among others who condemned Armstrong’s murder and demanded a speedy investigation were TVK’s Vijay, former AIADMK leader O Paneerselvam, MDMK’s Vaiko and VK Sasikala.