A day after a devastating stampede occurred at a campaign rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, organized by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay, resulting in 39 fatalities and over 50 injuries, authorities have taken legal action against the actor-politician’s top aides. The Karur District Police have filed separate FIRs against Anand, the party’s general secretary, and Nirmal Kumar, the joint general secretary of TVK.
ADGP (Law and Order) S Davidson Devasirvatham announced the registration of a case and the start of a preliminary investigation. The stampede happened as the rally, which was overcrowded, got out of control. This forced Vijay to cut short his speech. Among the victims were 16 women and 10 children.
Organizers had anticipated a crowd of around 10,000 people, but the actual attendance was nearly triple that number. DGP G Venkatraman stated that previous TVK rallies had smaller turnouts, highlighting the unexpected size of the crowd at this event.
The long wait without adequate food and water, coupled with Vijay’s late arrival, contributed to the circumstances. The meeting was authorized for 3 pm to 10 pm, yet people began gathering as early as 11 am. By 7:40 pm, when Vijay arrived, many had already waited for hours. Vijay recognized the police’s efforts but emphasized the need for party members to manage the crowd. An inquiry will be conducted to determine the causes of the tragedy, with a one-person commission in place. A considerable number of police officers were present at the venue.
Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his deep sorrow, noting that the magnitude of the loss was unprecedented in the state’s history for a political event. He immediately arranged for assistance, providing compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the injured. An inquiry commission, headed by a retired High Court judge, has been formed to further investigate the incident.