In a dramatic escalation of political violence, two political workers from Tamil Nadu were murdered within a span of less than 24 hours, intensifying the ongoing conflict between the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK.
Selvakumar, a BJP worker from Sivaganga district, was discovered murdered last night. He held the position of president of the party’s district cooperative wing and had a history of personal enmity, which investigators believe was the motive behind his killing. Authorities have identified a suspect and attribute the murder to a personal dispute rather than political rivalry.
In a related incident, Padmanabhan, the AIADMK’s Ward Secretary from Cuddalore district, was killed in Puducherry. Padmanabhan was first struck by a car while riding his motorbike and was subsequently hacked to death. Police sources suggest that this murder might be a revenge killing. Investigators from Puducherry have been dispatched to Cuddalore to probe the case further.
These murders mark the third instance of political violence in Tamil Nadu this month. Earlier, Armstrong, the state chief of Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party, was hacked to death by a six-member gang. Armstrong was reportedly involved in a prior murder case, which investigators believe was a retaliatory act. Additionally, a NTK functionary was murdered in Madurai in what was attributed to a family land dispute.
In Kanniyakumari, the husband of a Congress councillor, identified as Jackson, was also murdered this morning. Jackson, a driver by profession, was hacked to death by a six-member gang, with police efforts underway to apprehend the suspects.
The rising political violence has put the ruling DMK under intense scrutiny. The party recently saw a shake-up in its police leadership, with A Arun appointed as the new Chennai Police Chief and Dheeraj Kumar as the new Home Secretary. However, the murder of one of the accused in the Armstrong case after these changes has further fueled criticism.
The opposition AIADMK has seized the opportunity to criticize the DMK’s handling of law and order. AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan and BJP state chief K Annamalai have condemned Chief Minister M K Stalin’s administration, accusing it of failing to maintain peace and order. Annamalai even questioned Stalin’s right to remain as Chief Minister.
In response, the DMK has defended its record, arguing that the situation in Tamil Nadu is relatively stable compared to BJP-ruled states. DMK spokesperson Dr Hafeezullah emphasized that while crime is a global issue, the government’s response and preventative measures are key. He also criticized the BJP for allegedly admitting criminals into their ranks and suggested introspection by party leaders.
Sources By Agencies