T.N. saw 1,540 murders in 2024, lowest in 12 years: CM Stalin in Assembly

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin addresses the Assembly on Thursday
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday (March 20, 2025) that the State recorded 1,540 murders in 2024, marking the lowest annual figure in the past 12 years. He attributed the decline to the efforts of the Police department.

“When you compare the number of murders between 2012 and 2024, more murders took place in 2012, when the AIADMK was in power; there were 1,943 murders, the highest in 12 years. In 2013, there were 1,927 murders and in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown, the State witnessed 1,661 murders,” he said.

Mr. Stalin was replying to former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who raised the issue of four murders in Madurai, Sivaganga, Coimbatore, and Erode, which were reported on Wednesday (March 19, 2025).

Mr. Stalin said the Police department was functioning effectively and had prevented crimes, upheld peace, and ensured people’s safety. “Those who seek to gain political mileage by highlighting the murders committed due to previous enmity should go through the data presented by me and realise how law and order was in a bad shape in the State during the previous regime,” he said.

The AIADMK members had walked out of the House before the Chief Minister’s reply.

Mr. Stalin said the police were impartial and independent, and never took into consideration the political affiliations of the culprits. “On the one hand, they are taking steps to prevent crimes and on the other, they are taking speedy action after the incidents. They constantly monitor the activities of mercenaries and book them under the Goondas Act as a precautionary measure,” he said.

According to Mr. Stalin, in 2024 alone, 4,572 persons had been arrested under the Goondas Act. “The police actions have brought down the crime rate. There were 49,280 incidents in 2023 and it came down to 31,498 in 2024. Murders to avenge killing had come down by 42.72%,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the government had also focused on bringing the accused to justice. “In 2023, a total of 161 history-sheeters were convicted, and in 2024, 242 history-sheeters were convicted. In 2014 alone, 150 history-sheeters were awarded life sentence or 10 years of imprisonment,” he said.

The Chief Minister said when incidents get highlighted on social media, they were deliberately being used to create the impression that criminal activities had increased. “Actually, in 2024, murders have come down by 6.8%. Compared to the previous year, 2024 saw 109 fewer murders. Murders due to previous enmity have also come down by 42.72% in that year,” he explained

Mr. Stalin said according to the preliminary investigation, the Coimbatore incident was a case of suicide. The police are probing the Madurai incident, and the murder in Sivaganga was a result of a family dispute, he said.

He said the murder of John alias Chanakya in Erode, a history-sheeter from Kitchipalayam, occurred after he visited the police station to fulfil his bail conditions. He was waylaid by a gang and was hacked to death. He died on the spot and his wife is being treated for injuries. According to the preliminary investigation, the murder was committed to avenge the killing of another history-sheeter Chelladurai in 2020 in Salem, Mr. Stalin said.

“When police tracked down the suspects, they tried to attack the police. Sub-Inspector of Chitode police station opened fire, and three persons — Saravanan, Satheesh, and Poopalan — were injured. They are being treated at the Perundurai government hospital,” the Chief Minister said.