DMK’s Governance Under Fire: Is Law and Order Collapsing in Tamil Nadu?

In the past four years under the DMK government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, Tamil Nadu has seen a disturbing rise in violent crimes, targeted killings, and growing public anxiety over law and order. The state, once regarded for its administrative stability, is increasingly in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

In 2024 alone, Political murders took place in broad daylight, triggering outrage across party lines. First was the murder of Tamil Nadu BSP chief K Armstrong. He was hacked to death in Chennai-a city under tight surveillance. Though police called it a revenge killing, BSP chief Mayawati demanded a CBI probe. Just a day earlier, AIADMK worker M. Shanmugam was murdered in Salem. Among the accused was the husband of a DMK councillor, deepening suspicions of political shielding.

That wasn't all. On July 16, Naam Tamilar Katchi's Madurai North deputy secretary, C. Balasubramanian, was killed during a morning walk. BJP worker Selvakumar in Sivaganga, a Congress councillor's husband in Kanyakumari, and AIADMK's Padmanabhan near Puducherry met similar fates. In May, social activist T. Ferdin Rayan was brutally attacked in Tirunelveli after consistently raising concerns about illegal constructions and quarrying activities.

Jagabar Ali, the AIADMK Union Minority Wing Secretary and a well-known social activist from Pudukottai, had long been a fierce critic of illegal mining in Thirumayam Taluk. Despite repeated threats to his life, he continued to speak out, most recently exposing the RR Group for allegedly stockpiling over 70,000 lorry loads of illegally mined material. Days later, while returning home from prayers at a mosque, he was fatally struck by a tipper lorry.

Perhaps one of the most chilling episodes came in March 2025 when 60-year-old retired Sub Inspector Jahir Hussain Bijli was brutally murdered while walking home after offering Namaz in Chennai. A former special cell officer to Karunanidhi, Hussain had repeatedly lodged complaints to protect Wakf properties and even released a video fearing his own murder. His killing, despite these warnings, pointed to a serious lapse in police responsiveness.

As these high-profile cases sparked public anger, the AIADMK and BJP launched a fierce attack on the Stalin-led government. AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami cited these murders and demanded more autonomy for the police. Former BJP state president K. Annamalai accused the DMK of allowing "anti-social elements to thrive."

Crime Statistics Paint a Grim Picture

A look at the murder data offers a mixed picture-but one that hardly comforts. From January to June each year, the state averages four murders a day. In 2020, 770 murders were reported during this period. The number marginally rose in 2021 to 774, increased to 816 in 2022, and hovered at 777 and 778 in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Though the numbers haven't skyrocketed, the boldness of the crimes-many in public spaces-has raised questions about deterrence and policing.

Crimes against women have also seen a worrying rise in Tamil Nadu, particularly in urban areas - sparking public outrage and raising serious concerns about women's safety. In Manapparai, a schoolgirl was sexually assaulted; near Katpadi, a pregnant woman was pushed off a moving train; and in Tirupattur, the wife of a panchayat official was brutally murdered. These shocking incidents have rattled communities and laid bare the gaps in safety and law enforcement.

Reacting to the surge in such crimes, Annamalai remarked that Tamil Nadu is becoming a state where "no day passes without a crime against women." His comment echoed growing public anger, with protests demanding stronger protection for women and stricter enforcement of the law.

Official data backs these concerns. Police statistics show that crimes against women and children rose by 16% in 2021 - the first year of the DMK government - compared to 2020. Sexual assault cases increased from 404 in 2020 to 442 in 2021. The data further reveals that since the DMK took power, crimes against women have spiked by 33.5%. Even more alarming, compared to 2023, sexual assault cases have jumped by 16% in just one year, and POCSO cases (offences against children) have risen by a staggering 52%.

Domestic violence cases, particularly by husbands and close relatives, have also surged - up by 21.2%. The POCSO Act, designed to protect children from sexual offences, saw a jump in cases from 3,090 in 2020 to 4,469 in 2021 - underlining growing insecurity for vulnerable groups.

This rising tide of crime stands in stark contrast to promises made in the DMK's 2021 election manifesto, where Chief Minister M.K. Stalin pledged to release a visionary document aimed at creating a "crime-free state that ensures safety for women, children, and the elderly."

In 2022, Stalin had asserted that any "anti-social forces and mercenaries" who disrupted law and order would face action "with an iron fist." Yet, ironically, many of the crimes mentioned above occurred after that declaration - which now begs the question: Where did that iron fist go? The rising crime graph and growing public fear suggest it has vanished, leaving behind only the echo of broken promises.

Drug Abuse Among Youth on the Rise

Police seizures point to a disturbing trend: youth in the 18-25 age group are increasingly addicted to pharmaceutical drugs. Over 1.42 lakh tablets meant for recreational abuse were seized in 2024-a threefold jump from 39,910 in 2023. These include painkillers and anti-anxiety pills, often crushed and mixed with other substances for a temporary high.

While traditional narcotics like ganja showed a slight decline in seizures, enforcement agencies admit that drug use is evolving faster than their response. Critics say the DMK government has failed to keep pace with the changing landscape of substance abuse.

Domestic Crimes and Hooch Tragedies

Tamil Nadu has a long and tragic history with illicit liquor. In recent years, the state has seen multiple hooch-related deaths: 20 in 2020, six in 2021, and 16 in 2022. These figures are at odds with the DMK's repeated claims of "zero hooch tragedies." Domestic violence is also rising, closely linked with alcohol dependency and drug use. Yet, preventive measures and rehabilitation efforts remain thin on the ground.

The spate of killings, rising drug abuse, and crimes against women have given the Opposition fresh ammunition against the DMK. What began as scattered criticisms has now become a coordinated campaign accusing the government of presiding over a deteriorating law and order situation.

Public sentiment is increasingly uneasy. While the state government insists that crime numbers are under control and that many of the killings stem from personal enmity, not political rivalry, the frequency and brazenness of these acts paint a different picture.

With elections looming and public confidence waning, the DMK regime faces a crucial test-not just at the ballot box, but on the streets of Tamil Nadu.