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

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.

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.