Armstrong was attacked on Venugopal Swamy Koil Street, Perambur, by six men posing as delivery agents using machetes. They called him ‘Anna’, immobilising him and forcing supporters into a pit, fleeing on three bikes. Visiting the Ayanavaram site, Armstrong kept a pistol in his car, playing carrom.

The agents were defrauding victims of their wealth by fake insurance policies and loans.

While claiming that the stampede was planned, the lawyer said that some unidentified vehicles were there at the spot of the stampede and10-12 people sprayed poison