BSP leader K. Armstrong’s murder sets off revival of Dalit protests in T.N.’s political arena

The events that followed the brutal murder of Bahujan Samaj Party Tamil Nadu president K. Armstrong, in Perambur on July 5, such as scenes of thousands of distraught supporters thronging his funeral congregation, BSP chief Mayawati’s strong criticism that law and order has suffered in Tamil Nadu while demanding a CBI enquiry, and the last-minute legal battle to bury his remains has brought sharp focus on Tamil Nadu government’s response to atrocities and discrimination faced by Dalits. Thirumavalavan and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, K. Selvaperunthagai, echoing the charge of Mr. Armstrong’s supporters that those who surrendered at the police station were not the real killers. Let the police complete its investigation.” TNCC president Mr. Selvaperunthagai said that there was a need to strengthen intelligence gathering in Tamil Nadu and added that the State Government’s response to the Kallakurichi illicit liquor deaths, was appropriate. Filmmaker Pa. Ranjith, who was present during the funeral, and a was close associate of Armstrong, has raised a number of questions to the Tamil Nadu government on when it would take a serious view of the atrocities against Dalits in Tamil Nadu, accusing the State government of scuttling the attempts to bury his body in Perambur, in the office of the BSP, and on whether the State government’s social justice slogan was just a political tactic to mobilise Dalit votes.