"People will not put up with everything forever": DMK's Kanimozhi slams CM Vijay over spate of Diwali murders

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], November 9 (ANI): DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi on Monday, in a scathing attack on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led State government, accused the administration of apathy in view of reports of multiple deaths across the state on Diwali. 
In a post on X, Kanimozhi highlighted that while people were celebrating the festival of lights, several families mourned the loss of their loved ones. 
"Reports that 11 murders took place in Tamil Nadu yesterday alone are shocking. Lives have been lost in several districts, including a Special Police Sub-Inspector in Theni, a young woman in Tiruvallur, two children in Samayapuram, and an IT employee in Tiruchirappalli. While people are celebrating the Diwali festival on one side, the wails of grief over the deaths of loved ones can be heard in the families that have lost them on the other, under this inhumane government. No matter how many more lives are lost, Chief Minister @TVKVijayHQ, who lives in the arrogance of a victory won through on-screen charm, will not open his mouth. Chief Minister, do not assume that people will put up with everything forever!" she said. 

நேற்று மட்டும் தமிழ்நாட்டில் 11 கொலைகள் நடந்துள்ளதாக வரும் செய்திகள் அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கின்றன. தேனியில் சிறப்புக் காவல் உதவி ஆய்வாளர், திருவள்ளூரில் ஓர் இளம்பெண், சமயபுரத்தில் இரு சிறார்கள், திருச்சியில் ஓர் ஐடி ஊழியர் எனப் பல மாவட்டங்களில் உயிர்கள் பறிபோயுள்ளன. ஒருபுறம் மக்கள் தீபாவளி பண்டிகையைக் கொண்டாடிக் கொண்டிருக்க, இந்த மனிதாபிமானமற்ற ஆட்சியில் மறுபுறம் உயிர்களை இழந்த குடும்பங்களில் மரண ஓலம் கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருக்கிறது. இன்னும் எத்தனை உயிர்கள் பறிபோனாலும், திரைக் கவர்ச்சியால் கிடைத்த வெற்றி தந்த அகந்தையில் வாழும் முதலமைச்சர் @TVKVijayHQ அவர்கள் வாய் திறக்கப் போவதில்லை. முதலமைச்சர் அவர்களே, மக்கள் எல்லாவற்றையும் எப்போதும் சகித்துக்கொண்டே இருப்பார்கள் என்று நினைத்துவிடாதீர்கள்!

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss strongly condemned the breakdown of public safety. He noted that at least 10 people have lost their lives in various incidents across the State. 
In a post on X, Ramadoss pointed directly to alcohol consumption as a primary trigger for the festival-day violence and reiterated the party's demand for the temporary closure of liquor outlets during festive seasons.
"As many as ten people, including a police Special Sub-Inspector, were murdered in various incidents across Tamil Nadu, from Chennai to Theni, during the Deepavali festival. It is condemnable that even police personnel entrusted with maintaining law and order are now facing a situation where their own safety cannot be guaranteed," he said.
He noted that despite repeated demands of a total liquor prohibition in the State during the festival season, Ramadoss stressed that the murders are the consequences of the negligence of the State government. 

Ten People, Including a Police Officer, Murdered Across TN During Deepavali: Strict Action Must Be Taken to Maintain Law & Order Without Compromise! As many as Ten people, including a police Special Sub-Inspector, were murdered in various incidents across Tamil Nadu, from Chennai to Theni, during the Deepavali festival. It is condemnable that even police personnel entrusted with maintaining law and order are now facing a situation where their own safety cannot be guaranteed. In Chennai’s Vyasarpadi, a youth named Dhanush was murdered due to previous enmity. In Tiruvallur, a young woman named Megala was murdered, while three people were killed in Tiruchirappalli. Three people with criminal backgrounds were murdered in Cuddalore and Sivaganga districts. One person has also been murdered in Perambalur. In Theni district, police Special Sub-Inspector Senthilkumar was beaten to death by intoxicated youths after he questioned them for blocking a road and bursting firecrackers to make social media reels. Alcohol was the primary factor behind most of the crimes committed during Deepavali. Taking this into account, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has been consistently demanding that liquor shops be closed for a week during festival seasons until total prohibition is implemented. However, the Tamil Nadu Government has ignored this demand, and these murders are the consequence. Previous enmity was, in one way or another, the underlying cause of all ten murders that took place on a single day. The police should have anticipated such incidents and taken preventive measures in advance. Law and order are among the most important factors in a state's development and its ability to attract industrial investments. If this situation continues, Tamil Nadu will earn a negative reputation outside the State. To prevent this, the Tamil Nadu Government and the police must take stringent action without compromise to safeguard law and order. Meanwhile, a video circulating on social media showing Karthik Kumar, who had approached the MLA of Thuraiyur constituency in Tiruchirappalli district to complain about drinking water and garbage-related problems, being assaulted and driven away by the legislator, Ravishankar, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, has caused shock and outrage. An inquiry must also be conducted into this incident, and appropriate action must be taken. @CMOTamilnadu

"Alcohol was the primary factor behind most of the crimes committed during Deepavali. Taking this into account, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has been consistently demanding that liquor shops be closed for a week during festival seasons until total prohibition is implemented. However, the Tamil Nadu Government has ignored this demand, and these murders are the consequence. Previous enmity was, in one way or another, the underlying cause of all ten murders that took place on a single day. The police should have anticipated such incidents and taken preventive measures in advance," he said.
Further, he flagged the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, cautioning that if this situation continues, the reputation of the State will be compromised. He urged the administration to take strict action to prevent further instances.  
"Law and order are among the most important factors in a state's development and its ability to attract industrial investments. If this situation continues, Tamil Nadu will earn a negative reputation outside the State. To prevent this, the Tamil Nadu Government and the police must take stringent action without compromise to safeguard law and order," he said.
Moreover, Tamil Nadu BJP Spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said that at least nine people lost their lives during the festival. He highlighted that people across age groups and districts fell victim to violent attacks. 
In a post on X, Thirupathy said that the crimes were triggered by alcohol, highlighting that a uniformed police officer was killed by a drunken mob. He raised concerns about the safety of the public, with liquor-fuelled groups creating a ruckus on the streets.
"On Deepavali day alone (8 November 2026), nine people were murdered in separate incidents across the state. Two 17-year-old boys were hacked to death in Trichy. A Special Sub-Inspector of Police was beaten to death on a public road in Theni by a drunken group after he questioned them. A young woman was stabbed, an IT employee was killed, and several others died in violent attacks, some linked to drinking disputes and rowdyism. These are not random crimes. In multiple cases, alcohol was a direct trigger. A uniformed police officer was killed by a drunken mob, and a rowdy was cut down in a drinking quarrel. When liquor-fuelled groups can attack police and minors can be butchered without fear, the state’s control over public spaces has clearly weakened," he said.

The law-and-order situation in Tamil Nadu has deteriorated to a dangerous level, and the role of liquor and rising drug peddling can no longer be ignored. On Deepavali day alone (8 November 2026), nine people were murdered in seperate incidents across the state. Two 17-year-old boys were hacked to death in Trichy. A Special Sub-Inspector of Police was beaten to death on a public road in Theni by a drunken group after he questioned them. A young woman was stabbed, an IT employee was killed, and several others died in violent attacks, some linked to drinking disputes and rowdyism. These are not random crimes. In multiple cases, alcohol was a direct trigger. A uniformed police officer was killed by a drunken mob, and a rowdy was cut down in a drinking quarrel. When liquor-fuelled groups can attack police and minors can be butchered without fear, the state’s control over public spaces has clearly weakened. This is compounded by a documented rise in drug peddling. In 2026, seizures of pharmaceutical tablets (such as painkillers diverted for abuse) have surged more than 12-fold compared to the previous year, narcotics cases have risen sharply, and large methamphetamine consignments have been intercepted, including along coastal routes. Inter-state networks trafficking synthetic drugs and tablets have been busted, yet the volume of recoveries indicates that supply and demand remain high.⁠ Easy availability of liquor combined with growing drug trafficking creates an environment where violence becomes more frequent and more brazen. Festival days, which should see stricter controls, instead become periods of heightened risk. The @TVKPartyHQ government and the Tamil Nadu Police bear responsibility for failing to curb both the immediate triggers of drunken violence and the deeper problem of drug networks operating with relative impunity. Families have lost sons and a police officer has died on duty. Ordinary citizens are left exposed. This level of violence, enabled in part by liquor and rising drug peddling, is indefensible. It demands immediate, visible action, not statements but against both street-level drunken disorder and the organised supply of narcotics. Anything less will only confirm that law and order has been allowed to deteriorate by the irresponsible state Government. Narayanan Thirupathy, Chief Spokesperson, BJP, Tamil Nadu.

Citing a documented surge in pharmaceutical tablet seizures, synthetic drug smuggling, and inter-state narcotics networks operating alongside routine street-level disorder, the BJP leader held the government and state police directly accountable.
"This is compounded by a documented rise in drug peddling. In 2026, seizures of pharmaceutical tablets (such as painkillers diverted for abuse) have surged more than 12-fold compared to the previous year, narcotics cases have risen sharply, and large methamphetamine consignments have been intercepted, including along coastal routes. Inter-state networks trafficking synthetic drugs and tablets have been busted, yet the volume of recoveries indicates that supply and demand remain high," he said.
The remarks came as Tamil Nadu witnessed cases of altercations which led to multiple deaths, including minors, police officials, and women across the State on the festival of Diwali, raising serious safety concerns in the State. (ANI)