The death toll in the tragic stampede at a rally led by actor-turned-politician Vijay in Karur on Saturday climbed to 40 on Sunday. Over 60 people remain hospitalised, with at least two in critical condition, following one of Tamil Nadu’s deadliest political gatherings in recent memory.
A case has been filed against Vijay’s top aides, while his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) moved the Madras High Court, seeking probe and alleging conspiracy.
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Police filed cases against TVK leaders Mathiazhagan, Bussy Anand, and CT Nirmal Kumar under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempted culpable homicide, rash acts endangering life, disobedience of lawful orders, and violations of the Tamil Nadu Public Property Damage Act.
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Vijay-led TVK approached the Madras High Court, seeking either a CBI investigation or an independent enquiry into the incident. The party claimed the stampede was triggered by a lathi charge, a sudden power cut, and stone-pelting. BJP’s K Annamalai also demanded a CBI probe, citing police and administration lapses.
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Vijay announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for each family of the deceased. The TVK chief had planned to visit Karur on Sunday evening; however, the government urged him not to go to the stampede site, warning that his presence could exacerbate law and order concerns.
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Tamil Nadu police dismissed TVK’s claim of stone-pelting, stating that no such incident occurred. They added that the party leadership defied official directives during the Karur rally. Police noted that as Vijay arrived, the crowd surged forward uncontrollably, and younger attendees were beyond management.
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The victims included ten children — five boys and five girls — 17 women, and 13 men. Among them were a 2-year-old boy, a 28-year-old woman with her two daughters, both under 10, and a couple, both aged 24, who were set to be married soon.
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Te single-person Commission of Enquiry constituted by the Tamil Nadu government, headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, began a probe into the incident and visited the Karur General Hospital, spoke with the affected families, and inspected the site of the stampede.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. The state government declared Rs 10 lakh for each deceased and Rs 1 lakh for each injured. TVK’s own announcement of Rs 20 lakh for the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured was supplemented by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee offering Rs 1 crore per family and the BJP promising Rs 1 lakh per family.
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Adding to the legal proceedings, a man injured in the stampede petitioned the High Court to restrain the Tamil Nadu DGP from granting permission for any further public meetings by Vijay until the investigation into Saturday’s tragedy is complete.
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Answering questions about the possibility of TVK chief Vijay’s arrest, Chief Minister MK Stalin said any action would depend on the enquiry panel’s report and stressed that he would not make comments influenced by political considerations.
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Eyewitnesses and officials noted that the stampede escalated as crowds far exceeded the 10,000-person limit sanctioned for the rally, swelling to nearly 27,000 due to Vijay’s delayed arrival. Many attendees, waiting hours under the scorching sun without sufficient food or water, fainted even before the rally began.
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