Murder of BSP Leader Armstrong in Chennai: Unraveling the Mystery

BSP leader Armstrong’s murder in Chennai has sent shockwaves across the state, with the police investigation revealing a complex web of events leading up to the brutal attack. According to eyewitnesses, Armstrong was at his under-construction house on Venugopal Swamy Kovil street in Perambur, a densely populated residential area, when four unidentified men ambushed him at around 7:15 pm on the day of the attack.

Armstrong, who was known for his frequent visits to the construction site, had arrived at the site around 3:30 pm and was chatting with friends Veeramani and Balaji when the attack occurred. The attackers, who were armed with machetes and country-made bombs, intended to kill Armstrong and had planned the attack meticulously. Veeramani and Balaji, who rushed to Armstrong’s rescue, were also assaulted and pushed into a 10-foot-deep pit dug up during the construction work.

Police sources revealed that the attackers had come prepared to overpower Armstrong, and the CCTV footage obtained by the police shows a person carrying a bag and a machete fleeing on foot, followed by men on three bikes, also armed with machetes. The footage also shows four men running down a street, with three of them appearing together before the fourth man follows a few seconds later, looking over his shoulder.

Just hours after the murder, TV channels reported that eight suspects had surrendered to the police, and later that night, the Chennai police announced that the same eight men had been arrested. The police claimed that Armstrong’s murder was in retaliation for the murder of an A+ category history sheeter, Arcot Suresh, in August 2023. According to the police, Suresh’s brother Ponnai Balu and other gang members believed Armstrong had a role in Suresh’s killing.

However, Armstrong’s party workers and those close to him are skeptical of the police’s stance, believing that the murder was not a revenge plot orchestrated by gangsters. They point out that the arrested men were mere “scapegoats” and that the real perpetrators may have received support from powerful individuals.

The BSP and the DMK’s ally, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), have expressed mistrust in the Chennai police’s investigation and have demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation take over the case. Opposition leaders have also criticized the state government, asking how the law and order situation could have deteriorated so badly in Tamil Nadu that the state president of a national party could be murdered in the capital city.

The police investigation is still ongoing, with Sandeep Rathore, the police officer in charge of the case, stating that they are probing an angle related to Arcot Suresh’s time in prison and that Armstrong had a history of being involved in cheating cases and scams, although all the cases had been closed by the courts. Armstrong’s supporters have accused the state government of maligning his reputation to cover up the crime.

As the investigation continues, the motive behind Armstrong’s murder remains unclear, with the police and Armstrong’s supporters offering conflicting theories. The case has sparked outrage and protests across the state, with Dalit activists and the BSP demanding a thorough investigation and justice for the slain leader.

Historical Context:

The article mentions the murder of an A+ category history sheeter, Arcot Suresh, in August 2023, which is believed to be connected to the murder of BSP leader Armstrong. This incident highlights the ongoing gang wars and violence in Tamil Nadu, which has been a concern for the state government and law enforcement agencies. The article also mentions the involvement of powerful individuals in the crime, which is a common theme in Indian politics, where political leaders and gangsters often have ties and engage in criminal activities.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• BSP leader Armstrong was murdered in Chennai on [date] at his under-construction house in Perambur. • The attackers, armed with machetes and country-made bombs, ambushed Armstrong and his friends Veeramani and Balaji, who were also assaulted and pushed into a 10-foot-deep pit. • The police investigation revealed that the attackers had planned the attack meticulously and had come prepared to overpower Armstrong. • The police claimed that Armstrong’s murder was in retaliation for the murder of Arcot Suresh in August 2023, but Armstrong’s party workers and supporters are skeptical of this theory. • The arrested suspects were described as “scapegoats” by Armstrong’s supporters, who believe that the real perpetrators may have received support from powerful individuals. • The BSP and DMK’s ally, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), have expressed mistrust in the Chennai police’s investigation and demanded that the Central Bureau of Investigation take over the case. • Opposition leaders have criticized the state government, asking how the law and order situation could have deteriorated so badly in Tamil Nadu that the state president of a national party could be murdered in the capital city. • The police investigation is ongoing, with an angle related to Arcot Suresh’s time in prison and Armstrong’s history of being involved in cheating cases and scams being probed. • Armstrong’s supporters have accused the state government of maligning his reputation to cover up the crime. • The motive behind Armstrong’s murder remains unclear, with the police and Armstrong’s supporters offering conflicting theories. • The case has sparked outrage and protests across the state, with Dalit activists and the BSP demanding a thorough investigation and justice for the slain leader.