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Eight men have been arrested for the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party’s Tamil Nadu chief in Chennai, police said on Saturday. K Armstrong was hacked to death by bike-borne men near his house on Friday. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said he has ordered the police to investigate the “shocking” murder “expeditiously”.

“Bahujan Samaj Party State President Armstrong’s assassination is shocking and deeply saddening. The police arrested those involved in the murder overnight. I would like to convey my deepest condolences and condolences to all of Armstrong’s party, family, relatives and friends who are bereaved and I have ordered the police officers to conduct the case expeditiously and bring the culprits to justice as per the law,” he wrote in a post on X.

On Friday, BSP Chief Mayawati said the killing was “deplorable” and called on the state to “punish the guilty”. 

In a post on X, she called Armstrong a “strong voice” of Dalits. “The gruesome killing of Mr K Armstrong, Tamil Nadu state Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president, outside his Chennai house is highly deplorable and condemnable. An advocate by profession, he was known as a strong Dalit voice in the state. The state government must punish the guilty,” she wrote. 

Tamil Nadu opposition has hit out at the ruling DMK over the brazen attack, saying the killing is evidence of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “What do I say when the state chief of a national party is murdered? The law and order is shameful. There is no fear of law or the police,” Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswamy said.

Initial investigation suggests this was a revenge murder linked to the killing of a gangster Arcot Suresh last year. Sources say the suspects in the murder include close relatives and associates of Suresh.

Some reports said the attackers posed as food delivery agents, but police are yet to confirm this.

A lawyer, Armstrong was elected to the Chennai Corporation Council in 2006. He shot to fame after he organised a mega rally in Chennai with BSP Chief Mayawati in 2008. In the past, Armstrong had faced cases including allegations of abduction, but over the years he was acquitted by courts.

Police have formed ten special teams under Additional Commissioner of Police Asra Garg. “We are interrogating. In a few hours, we would share what exactly is the motive” Mr Garg told NDTV.
 

Raj Tarun, a Telugu actor known for his roles in several hit films has been accused of infidelity and cheating by his live-in partner. His partner Lavanya has filed a police case against him claiming that he cheated on her with a co-star during the shooting of his recent film, an allegation that Mr Tarun has denied.

In her complaint, Lavanya alleges that despite being together for over a decade, Raj Tarun has refused to acknowledge their relationship publicly. She claims that the actor has distanced himself from her due to his involvement with another actor based in Mumbai.

In her statement to the police, Lavanya revealed that she and Raj Tarun participated in a secret marriage ceremony at a temple, with promises from the actor to formalize their union legally. However, she alleges that he has been unfaithful and is now romantically involved with a co-star from his upcoming project.

According to a Telugu Cinema report, Lavanya claimed that she and the actor had gotten married secretly at a temple. She claimed that Mr Tarun had promised to formalise their marriage, but then disappeared for three months and was now dating someone else.

Speaking to reporters, Raj Tarun vehemently denied the accusations, calling them shocking and baseless. He clarified that while they had been in a relationship for 10 years, they had mutually agreed to part ways recently. Raj Tarun asserted that he never misled Lavanya or cheated on her. He also denied her claims regarding a secret marriage and accused her of spreading falsehoods.

“It was shocking and disappointing to hear the false allegations against me. We had been in a relationship for 10 years, and we decided to part ways according to a mutual understanding. I have never cheated or misled her,” he told the media.

The actor also told police that Lavanya was accused in a drugs case, and had been arrested once, but he had never made the case details public or defamed her.

Lavanya in her complaint mentioned that she spent 45 days in police custody, but alleges that the actor showed no concern for her situation.

Police have acknowledged receiving the complaint and stated that they will investigate the matter thoroughly. They emphasized that any further action would depend on the evidence provided by both parties involved.

Raj Tarun, known for his roles in films such as ‘Uyyala Jampala’ and ‘Kumari 21 F’, has carved a niche for himself in the Telugu film industry. His recent role in Naga Chaitanya’s ‘Naa Saami Ranga’ garnered significant attention and praise for his performance.