Armstrong’s murder accused was killed to silence others involved in the case: AIADMK leader Jayakumar

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 15 (ANI): All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader D Jayakumar raised doubts on Monday about the encounter killing of one of the accused in BSP leader K Armstrong's murder.
He said that he has a strong suspicion that the accused was killed in a fake encounter to keep the other accused in the case silent.
"On Yesterday's encounter near Chennai, we have a strong doubt whether this was a true encounter by police. We doubt that he was killed to make sure that the other accused should not open their mouths to say the truth about Armstrong's murder," Jayakumar told reporters here.
According to the police, the accused, Thiruvengadam, was killed in a shoot-out near Madhavaram in Chennai on Saturday night. The exchange of fire took place after he tried to flee from police custody while he was taken out to recover a weapon used in the murder of Armstrong, the police said.
According to the police, Thiruvengadam is said to have followed Armstrong for several days, ahead of the murder, keeping a constant tab on the BSP leader's activities.
Thiruvengadam was taken to a place near Madhavaram at 7 am on Sunday to take the weapons that were used to kill Armstrong.
Police said that in the meantime, the accused tried to attack one of the sub-inspectors and tried to escape from the place, after which the police team opened fire at him.
The accused was then rushed to the Stanley Government Hospital, Chennai, where the doctors examined him and declared that he was dead.
Thiruvengadam, who was killed in the encounter, was accused of the murder of Thennarasu alias Thenna, Tiruvallur district president of BSP, reported at Thamaraipakkam Koot Road near Periyapalayam in 2015.
Armstrong was hacked to death last Friday evening by a group of unidentified men near his residence in Perambur, Chennai.
The Chennai police suspect the involvement of associates of gangster Arcot Suresh, who was murdered in August last year, in the murder.
Speaking to 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 Armstrong, who was murdered on Friday," he stated.
The Chennai police formed special teams to comprehensively probe the case. (ANI)