Tamil Nadu Police kills state BSP chief K Armstrong's murder accused in encounter

The accused, Thiruvengadam, was taken to a spot for the recovery of the weapons used in the murder of K Armstrong when he attacked the police using the same weapon.

According to The New Indian Express, K Thiruvengadam (33) is a resident of Kundrathur, a history sheeter.

On Sunday morning, Thiruvengadam was taken to a location near a lake in Madhavaram where the weapons used to attack and kill Armstrong were hidden. At the scene, Thiruvengadam allegedly attempted to attack a policeman and escape, when police shot and killed him.

He was injured in the retaliatory firing and rushed to the hospital. "He was declared brought dead by the doctors," officials were quoted as saying by NDTV.

K Armstrong was hacked to death by six bike-borne men near his house in Chennai earlier this month.

The attack occurred while Armstrong was having a discussion with a few party functionaries near his home in the city's Sembium area.

After the assault, the attackers fled the scene. Armstrong's family rushed him to a hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.

Thiruvengadam was one of the suspects arrested in connection with K Armstrong's murder. Armstrong, a lawyer, was elected to the Chennai Corporation Council in 2006.

He gained prominence after organizing a large rally in Chennai two years ago, where he invited BSP chief Mayawati.

The others who were arrested are Ponnai V Balu (39), D Ramu (38), K S Thirumalai (45), D Selvaraj (48), G Arul (33) of, K Manivannan (25) and J Santosh (22). Three other men Gokul, Vijay and Sivasankar were arrested the next day. The city police said that Armstrong was killed in retaliation for the murder of a history sheeter Arcot Suresh near Foreshore Estate in 2023. One of the arrested suspects, Ponnai V Balu, is the younger brother of Suresh, reported the New India Express.

On July 11, the city police took the suspects into custody for five days for questioning.

BSP chief Mayawati has demanded a CBI investigation into the attack.

"I urge the state government, especially the Chief Minister, to ensure law and order in the state. The weaker sections, in particular, should feel safe. Had the government been serious, the accused would have been arrested. Since that is not the case, we urge the state government to refer the case to the CBI," she had said.