Armstrong, Tamil Nadu chief of Mayawati’s party, hacked to death in Chennai

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu president Armstrong was allegedly hacked to death on Friday by six unidentified people near his residence in Chennai’s Perambur area, officials said.

Initial reports claimed that an unidentified group of bike-borne men attacked Armstrong with knives, leaving him fatally injured on the road. According to police, the motive behind the murder is unclear at the moment.

Armstrong was attacked in the jurisdiction of the Sembium police jurisdiction and an intense search operation is underway to nab the accused.

Following the attack, Armstrong was rushed to a private hospital in the city, where he was declared brought dead. The body of the politician was shifted to Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Armstrong, who had previously served as a Chennai Corporation councillor, was living in Perambur.

According to police sources, the BSP Tamil Nadu chief was overseeing the construction of a new house. When Armstrong arrived to inspect the construction site around 7 pm, six unidentified men on bikes attacked him.

Notably, four of the assailants were dressed as food delivery agents.

Police have accessed nearby CCTV footage and are using it to aid their search for the suspects.

Reacting to the murder, BJP Tamil Nadu chief Annamalai took to X and attacked the MK Stalin-led DMK government over the rising violence in the state.

“Deeply shocked by the news of the brutal murder of the State President of the Bahujan Samaj Party, Thiru Armstrong avl, in Chennai today. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family & the cadres of the Bahujan Samaj Party at this time,” Annamalai said.

“Violence & brutality has no place in our society but has become a norm in TN in the last 3 years under the DMK regime. Having left the law & order of the State in shatters, Thiru @mkstalin should ask himself if he has the moral responsibility to continue as the CM of the State,” he added.

Even the AIADMK slammed the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government for detroriorating law and order conditions in Tamil Nadu.

“What can one say about the state of law-and-order under the DMK govt when the state president of a national party is murdered?” AIADMK leader Palaniswami asked.

He has also urged the government to ensure that the funeral of Armstrong is carried out in a peaceful manner.