When the accused, Thiruvengadam, was taken by cops to a location in Chennai as part of the investigation, he allegedly assaulted a policeman.
Published Jul 15, 2024 | 7:18 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 15, 2024 | 7:18 PM
Late Tamil Nadu BSP chief Armstrong and key accused in his murder, Thiruvengadam
Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathy on Monday, 15 July justified the police action in opening fire at a prime suspect in state Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader K Armstrong’s murder case, saying that all those arrested in the case were the real culprits.
Police had no option but to open fire at Thiruvengadam, the murder suspect who attacked them, he said.
“Police can only shoot at and capture the culprits who try to escape after attacking the police. What else can be done?” he asked during a brief interaction with the media in Chennai.
The Law Minister said the Tamil Nadu government was determined to curb criminal activities.
According to reports, Thiruvengadam is said to have followed Armstrong for several days before Armstrong’s murder to keep a constant tab on the BSP leader’s activities.
When the accused, K Thiruvengadam, was taken by cops to a location in north Chennai as part of the investigation to unearth weapons concealed in a spot, he allegedly assaulted a policeman. He allegedly tried to escape and a police officer shot at him.
He was taken to the government Stanley Hospital in Chennai where he was declared by doctors as brought dead.
The incident took place when the police vehicle had halted near a lake area to enable the accused to relieve himself, according to the police.
Though the police personnel tried to apprehend Thiruvengadam, he fled, the police said. Eventually, however, the sleuths spotted him at a nearby locality and busted his hideout at ‘Vegetarian Village’, which falls in Puzhal police station limits.
Several Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami had questioned the ‘encounter.’
Taking to X, the LoP had asked, “What was the need to rush someone in police custody early in the morning and shoot them dead? Did the police handcuff the murderer while taking him to confiscate the weapons? As Armstrong’s family and his party suspect that those who surrendered are not real criminals, the encounter only reinforces their suspicions.”
State BJP chief K annamalai had also expressed suspicion over the alleged encounter and asked, “The claim that a man, who had surrendered to the poilice tried to escape, has raised serious suspicions. As three DMK members were also involved in Armstrong’s assassination, it seems that there is an attempt to cover up some truth. Mr. It also raises the question of whether investigation into Armstrong’s murder case is headed in the right direction.”
Asked about BJP state chief K Annamalai’s suspicion over the death of Thiruvengadam, Regupathy replied “The police recovered CCTV footage of Thiruvengadam involved in the murder of Armstrong. Only the real culprits in the murder case have been arrested.”
Thiruvengadam, in his thirties, was one of the 11 accused arrested in the Armstrong murder case and is a history sheeter. A couple of days ago, a court in Chennai granted police five-day custody of the accused persons.
The cops were questioning all the 11 suspects including Thiruvengadam in their custody.
On 5 July, Armstrong was hacked to death in Chennai by a gang and the murder led to outrage and opposition parties alleged complete deterioration of law and order. The police and the government had assured stern measures to bring the culprits to book.
(Edited by Neena with PTI inputs)
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