Tamil Nadu sets up special division to probe BJP leader's murder

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Chennai: Expressing shock over the "brutal murder" of BJP state general secretary V Ramesh, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today constituted a Special Investigation Division under the Director General of Police (CB-CID) to probe the case.
Terming the murder as "heinous," Jayalalithaa said, "Violence and violent crimes, irrespective of whether they are politically motivated or otherwise, have no place in a civilized society and should be rooted out by stern and strong measures."
Observing that Tamil Nadu has largely been free of communal, Left Wing extremist and religious fundamentalist violence, she asserted that anti-social elements or forces would not be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere in the state and resort to violence and murder, "either for personal or political gain, or to foment communal violence or extremism in any form."
In a statement, she said the Special Investigation Division would also take over the ongoing probe in the murder of Hindu Munnani State Secretary Vellaiyappan this July 1 at Vellore. She conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the family of the BJP functionary, who was murdered at Salem on Friday last.
Defending the police force, she said a recent significant achievement was the arrest of an accused wanted in last year's 'pipe bomb' case at Thirumangalam in which the target was BJP leader L K Advani. She expressed confidence that the guilty would be apprehended soon and dealt with as per law.
BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu welcomed the constitution of a special investigation division to probe the murder and urged the Chief Minister to take personal interest in the matter and take action against the culprits.
Listing the names of leaders from BJP and right-wing outfits in the state, who have been murdered or attacked, he said, "There seems to be a pattern in all these murders. This is a case of police failure."
"These incidents must be seen in the backdrop of Al Umma's activities in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Organisations have been changing their name from time to time," he told reporters. He wanted police to go to the bottom of the truth and not only arrest the culprits but also find the links between different organisations, involved in these murders.
Naidu alleged that there had been an attempt on the life of Ramesh a year back at Salem, but he had escaped unhurt. "There was an attempt on the life of Ramesh a year back. Thankfully he escaped but his car was damaged," he said.