AIADMK Leader Questions Authenticity of Police Encounter in BSP Leader's Murder

AIADMK's D Jayakumar doubts the legitimacy of the police encounter killing the accused in BSP leader Armstrong's murder case. Jayakumar suspects the encounter was staged to silence other accused. The murder is believed to involve associates of the late gangster Arcot Suresh.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader D Jayakumar has expressed doubts over the validity of the police encounter that resulted in the death of an accused in the murder of BSP leader, K Armstrong. He suspects it was staged to keep other accused silent.

"Regarding yesterday's encounter near Chennai, we have substantial doubt whether it was genuine. We suspect the accused was killed to ensure that others involved would remain silent about Armstrong's murder," Jayakumar told reporters. According to police, the accused, Thiruvengadam, was shot in a confrontation near Madhavaram in Chennai on Saturday night while he attempted to flee during an operation to recover the murder weapon.

Thiruvengadam had allegedly been monitoring Armstrong's activities before the murder. Taken to retrieve the murder weapon early Sunday, he supposedly tried to attack an officer and escape, prompting police to shoot him. He was later pronounced dead at Stanley Government Hospital, Chennai.

Thiruvengadam, implicated in the 2015 murder of BSP district president Thenna Thennarasu, was accused of killing Armstrong, who was hacked to death by unidentified assailants near his Perambur residence last Friday.

Chennai police suspect the involvement of associates of late gangster Arcot Suresh, murdered in August 2023, in Armstrong's killing. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), North Chennai, Asra Garg confirmed the arrest of eight people and the seizure of weapons and other items used in the crime.

Garg highlighted that Suresh's associates believed Armstrong conspired in the gangster's murder. Further investigations continue as special teams secured three more suspects. Initial findings suggest various motives underpinning the crime.