The arrest of a functionary associated with the DMK youth wing in an alleged gun-running case has sparked a strong political response, with BJP leader K Annamalai launching a sharp attack on the ruling party. He accused the DMK government of allowing Tamil Nadu to become a refuge for criminal activities, arguing that the incident reflected a deeper collapse of law and order in the state.
Annamalai made the allegation in a post on X following the arrest of Rathina Balan, identified as a DMK Youth Wing functionary, along with his alleged associate Aamer Suhail. The two were reportedly taken into custody for attempting to sell firearms using social media platforms, a development that the BJP leader described as deeply alarming.
In his post, Annamalai claimed that Tamil Nadu has witnessed a worrying rise in violent incidents over the past five years, a period that overlaps with the DMK’s return to power. He asserted that the latest case was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of deteriorating public safety under the current administration.
He further alleged that the ruling party was fostering an environment where unlawful activities could flourish. According to him, the involvement of a party-linked individual in an arms-related case underscored how far the situation had worsened, turning what he called a culture of lawlessness into an even more dangerous threat.
Expanding his criticism, Annamalai said that elements involved in various illegal activities, ranging from local rowdyism and drug peddling to international narcotics networks and now gun-running, were finding shelter under the DMK’s watch. He described this trend as evidence that the state was increasingly becoming a haven for criminal networks.
The BJP leader has repeatedly targeted the DMK government over issues of crime and public safety since it came to power, though the ruling party has consistently rejected these accusations and defended its record on law and order.
