New Delhi

A man who was accused in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu's chief K Armstrong was shot dead by cops on Sunday (July 14). Citing the police, a report by the news agency ANI said that the accused was identified as Thiruvengadam. He was killed in a police encounter near Madhavaram in Chennai. 

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ANI reported that Thiruvengadam was said to have followed Armstrong for several days, ahead of the murder, keeping a constant tab on the BSP leader's activities. Thiruvengadam was a history sheeter.

How the encounter unfolded

According to the police, Thiruvengadam was taken to a place near Madhavaram at 7 am on Sunday to find the weapons that were used to kill Armstrong. In the meantime, the man tried to attack one of the cops and tried to escape from the place, after which the police team opened fire at him.

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Also read | Who was K Armstrong, BSP Tamil Nadu chief brutally hacked to death?

Thiruvengadam was then rushed to a government hospital in Chennai where doctors declared him dead. 

Not the first time he was accused of murder

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Thiruvengadam was earlier 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 on July 5 by a group of unidentified men near his residence in Perambur, Chennai. The police suspect the involvement of associates of gangster Arcot Suresh in Armstrong's murder. Suresh was killed in 2023.

The associates believed Suresh's murder was conspired by Armstrong. 

(With inputs from agencies)