Chief Minister MK Stalin has said on March 20 that murder rates in Tamil Nadu for the year 2024 had reduced by 6.8%, while revenge murders have gone down by 42% in comparison to 2023 data. The CM had been responding to the Leader of Opposition and All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami’s questions in the Assembly regarding law and order in Tamil Nadu.
His response came after EPS pointed out that four murders had taken place in the state on March 19 alone.
MK Stalin also claimed that the number of murders in the state had been the “highest” when the AIADMK was in power. “The number of murders in the AIADMK's regime in 2012 was 1,943. This is the highest number in the last 12 years. The number of murders in 2013 was 1,927. During the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020, the number was 1,661,” he said.
Stalin added that murders had reduced after his party came to power and that 2024 recorded the least number of murders–1,540–in the last 12 years.
“This government is also paying special attention to punishing the criminals. In 2023, 181 criminals were convicted by the courts. In 2024, 242 convicted criminals were convicted. This is due to the keen interest shown by the police department in court cases. To be specific, in the year 2024 alone, 150 rowdies have received life sentences or more than 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the courts,” the CM said.
Meanwhile, AIADMK MLAs staged a walkout during Stalin’s response.