BSP leader murder: Supporters stage protest, demand CBI probe, eight suspects held over killing
Chennai (PTI): As many as eight suspects have been held in connection with the murder of BSP state president K Armstrong, police said, but political leaders and supporters of the slain leader have questioned if they were the real culprits.
Supporters of the slain leader claimed his killing was "planned" and demanded a CBI probe into the death of the 52-year-old former Chennai Corporation Councillor.
The Bahujan Samaj Party leader was hacked to death by a six-member bike borne gang near his house in Perambur here on Friday.
Chief Minster M K Stalin on Saturday expressed shock over Armstrong's death and expressed his condolences and said the culprits were caught in an overnight operation.
A post-mortem on Armstrong's body was conducted at a government hospital here on Saturday.
Supporters of Armstrong staged a protest outside the hospital, demanding a CBI probe into the killing. A BSP functionary said it was a "planned murder" and claimed there was an "intelligence failure." Therefore, the central agency should probe the case.
The continued protest by Armstrong's supporters outside the hospital, located opposite the Chennai Central railway station, affected traffic movement on the busy Poonamalle High Road and they were later removed from there by the police.
Chief Minister Stalin said he was shocked and anguished over Armstrong's death.
"The police have arrested those involved in his murder in an overnight operation," Stalin said in a post on 'X'.
He said he had ordered the police to conduct the investigation expeditiously and ensure that the culprits are punished according to law.
"I would like to convey my deepest condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family and friends," he said.
At least eight suspects have been secured in connection with the murder of the BSP state president and 10 teams have been formed to crack the case, Asra Garg, Additional Commissioner (North) told reporters.
There are some "two to three suspicious motives", but the exact one would come to light only after the interrogation of the suspects, he added.
Meanwhile, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder and Lok Sabha member Thol Thirumavalavan claimed those who are under police custody presently in connection with the case had "surrendered" before them and that they were not the real culprits.
Praising Armstrong for his public work, he said the decased leader was a "trusted" colleague of BSP supremo and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati.
"His body will be kept for public homage at a private school in Perambur," he told reporters after visiting the government hospital.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai also said the "real culprits" behind the murder should be brought to book.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was trying to speak to the family of the victim, he added.
AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, condoled Armstrong's death and also slammed the ruling DMK over law and order.
In a post on 'X,' he expressed concern over the killing of a "national party's state chief" and alleged there was no fear of police, government and law that had emboldened individuals to resort to such crimes and slammed the chief minister.
BJP state president K Annamalai said violence and brutality had become normal in the three years of DMK rule and said the CM should ponder over if he has the moral right to continue in the post, vis-a-vis the law and order situation.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Police detains BSP workers and supporters protesting outside Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital demanding a CBI probe of the murder of their state president, K. Armstrong. pic.twitter.com/qkc1dmJ0rd
— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2024
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
