Chennai: Days after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader K. Armstrong was killed in Chennai, a Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) functionary was hacked to death by unknown assailants in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district early Tuesday.
C. Balasubramanian (48), a resident of Sellur, was NTK deputy secretary for Madurai North assembly constituency. On Tuesday morning, he was taking a walk on Vallabhai Road in Chinna Chokkikulam when four people waylaid him and attacked him with sickles, according to Tallakulam police.
“He was chased on Vallabhai Road and hacked to death,” said a police officer.
The incident took place just a few metres away from Tamil Nadu IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan’s residence. Balasubramanian was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he was declared dead. His body was sent to Government Rajaji Hospital for autopsy.
A case of murder has been registered against unknown persons at Tallakulam police station.
An investigating officer said the murder could be linked to Balasubramanian’s enmity with his close relatives. “As per our preliminary investigations, he had a dispute with his close relatives recently. The murder could be over the issue. However, we are investigating all possible angles.”
Police are also in the process of collecting CCTV footage from the spot to identify the assailants. Balasubramanian, the police said, too has three murder cases pending against him.
“We are also looking at if it was a revenge killing over his previous activities,” an officer said.
NTK chief coordinator S. Seeman condemned the murder and questioned the law and order situation in the state. “If anybody in the state can be killed with the help of henchmen, then where is the law and order situation in the state? (sic)” he said in a statement released Tuesday morning.
“Earlier I lost my beloved brother Xavier Kumar in Kanyakumari, who was also brutally killed in a similar manner. Now I have lost another beloved brother, Balasubramanian. I urge the police to arrest all those involved in the murder before we lay his body to rest,” he added.
Meanwhile, Madurai City Police Commissioner J Loganathan inspected the spot and formed three special teams to track the suspects.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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