Armstrong killing: Chennai police suspect 'revenge murder' linked to slain gangster Arcot Suresh's assassination

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 7 : Following the brutal killing of Tamil Nadu Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief K Armstrong, the Chennai police suspect the involvement of associates of gangster Arcot Suresh, who was murdered in August last year.
K Armstrong, Tamil Nadu BSP Chief, was hacked to death on Friday evening by a group of unidentified men near his residence in Perambur, Chennai.
In an interview with ANI on Sunday, Asra Garg, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), North Chennai, said, "After sustained interrogation, due analysis, and diligence regarding the facts and circumstances of each suspect, we have arrested eight people. We have seized seven blood-stained weapons, one Zomato t-shirt, a Zomato bag, and three bikes that were used in the commission of the offence."
Highlighting the suspected motive behind the killing, ACP Garg mentioned that the associates of gangster Arcot Suresh, who was assassinated last year, believed it was "conspired" by Armstrong.
"In continuation of this, the special teams formed by the Chennai police have secured three more suspects. The preliminary investigation so far indicates that the motive prima facie appears to be based on different types of analysis. In August 2023, Arcot Suresh was murdered by a gang; his family and associates believe it was done under the direction or in conspiracy with Mr Armstrong, who was murdered on Friday," he stated.
"Armstrong was murdered by associates of Arcot Suresh, including his brother, who has been arrested by us," added the ACP.
The Chennai police have formed special teams to comprehensively probe the case.
Earlier on Saturday, Greater Chennai Police Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore ruled out any political angles in the BSP leader's murder case.
"There is no political angle to this," Rathore said while speaking to reporters.
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of the slain BSP leader have been placed at Corporation School Ground in Chennai for public homage.
Several people were seen paying floral tributes to the leader.
BSP Chief Mayawati and the party's National Coordinator have also left for Chennai to pay tribute to the leader.
Earlier on Saturday, the BSP supremo called for immediate action from the Tamil Nadu government.
"The brutal murder of a hardworking and dedicated leader of the BSP in Tamil Nadu and the state party unit president Shri K. Armstrong outside his Chennai residence yesterday evening has sent shockwaves across society. The government should immediately take strict and necessary action to prevent such incidents in the future," she said in a post on 'X'.