HC permits burial of BSP leader K Armstrong's body in Pothur, Villaivakkam

CHENNAI: After several hours of deliberation, the Madras high court has permitted the burial of Bahujan Samaj Party Tamil Nadu president K Armstrong in a one-acre private land in Pothur village, Villivakkam.
Tiruvallur district collector has forwarded a resolution passed by the panchayat modifying the classification of the land from Ryotwari punjai land to a burial ground, Justice V Bhavani Subbaroyan said.
If the family of the deceased wants to construct a memorial in Chennai, they can approach the state government seeking necessary approval, the court said.
The court then directed the police to provide adequate protection for the last rites and the family to cooperate with the police to complete the funeral in a peaceful manner.
As to a request made by the counsels representing Amstrong’s wife to accord state respect to Armstrong, the court granted liberty to the petitioner to give a representation to the state.
The government has acted in a magnanimous way to help you (family of deceased) by providing a school ground to organise the funeral of the deceased, the court added.
The issue pertains to a plea moved by A Porkodi seeking permission to bury Armstrong’s wife in the BSP’s state headquarters.
Tamil Nadu govt refused permission since the party office was located in a residential area which is a congested place.
On Sunday morning, when the plea was taken up for hearing on urgent basis, Justice Bhavani Subbaroyan refused to direct the state to permit them to bury Armstrong in the party office citing the objections raised by the authorities.
Representing the state, additional advocate-general J Ravindran submitted that the govt has a heart to help the petitioner, but our hands are tied.
He further submitted that the BSP office is located in a narrow lane which is a residential area. Rules do not permit the declaration of land in a residential area as a burial ground, he said.
Armstrong was hacked to death by a gang near his house on Friday.