Gangster wanted for Tamil Nadu BSP chief's murder killed in police encounter

A gangster, who was arrested in connection with the murder of Tamil Nadu BSP chief K Armstrong, was shot dead in a police encounter in Chennai.

In Short

• Seizing Raja tried to escape police custody, but was shot dead
• He was arrested in Andhra Pradesh's Kadappa on Sunday
• K Armstrong, Tamil Nadu BSP chief, was hacked to death in July

A gangster wanted for the murder of Tamil Nadu Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief K Armstrong was killed in a police encounter in Chennai on Sunday. This is the second encounter involving an accused in K Armstrong's killing in the city in the past one week.

Seizing Raja was arrested by the police in Andhra Pradesh's Kadappa on Sunday and was brought to Chennai in a police van.

According to police sources, Seizing Raja was taken to the Neelankarai area in Chennai to show the hidden weapons he had stashed where he reportedly used a gun to shoot at the police. Following this, the police shot him twice in his stomach and chest.

Seizing Raja was taken to a private hospital where he was declared dead. His body was shifted to another hospital for a post-mortem examination.

According to the police, Seizing Raja had 33 pending cases against him and also faced cases under the Goondas Act five times.

Seizing Raja's wife said her husband was arrested when he went out to buy tiffin and claimed he was not involved in Armstrong's murder.

"For the past two years, he was not involved in any crime. My child is 90 days old and we have been living alone. I heard that there would be a fake encounter. I am really scared. He has nothing to do with the murder," she said.

"⁠I was having my baby shower on the day of the murder. I have all the evidence. Fake news is spreading that he was involved in the murder," she added.

Earlier, one gangster, Appu, was arrested in Delhi and the police were on the lookout for him for reportedly supplying country bombs. Following an investigation, Seizing Raja, one of the suspects, was arrested on Sunday.

On September 18, a gangster wanted for Armstrong's murder, 'Kakathope' Balaji, was killed in a police encounter in Chennai.

Armstrong, 52, was hacked to death by some unidentified people outside his home in Chennai on July 5. CCTV footage of the incident showed four of the assailants dressed as food delivery agents.

Following Armstrong’s murder, eight people were arrested. But a further investigation led to the arrest of 27 suspects, of which Thiruvengadam, a gangster, was killed in a police encounter, on July 13.