Chennai: The tragic Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives continues to unravel, with a damning FIR painting a picture of deliberate negligence by Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders, including chief Vijay.
The September 27 rally at Velusamypuram turned fatal when an estimated 25,000 supporters, far exceeding the permitted 10,000, surged in impatience after Vijay’s four-hour delay.
The FIR, filed by Karur Town Police Inspector G Mathialagan, holds three TVK officials — district secretary Mathiyalagan, state general secretary Bussy Anand, and joint secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar — responsible under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide), 110 (attempted culpable homicide), 125 (endangering lives), and 223 (disobeying orders), plus the Tamil Nadu Public Property Act.
Though Vijay’s name is absent, the document accuses his team of flouting 11 safety norms, conducting unauthorised roadshows, and halting his vehicle amid the throng to amplify the spectacle.
Crowds had gathered since 10 am under the blazing sun, with no medical facilities in sight. By 7 pm, as Vijay arrived via Velayuthampalayam, supporters clambered onto tin sheets and tree branches for a glimpse — structures that collapsed, triggering suffocation and panic. Police warnings about overcrowding went unheeded, exacerbating the crisis despite 500 personnel on duty.
Vijay advised against hospital visits to avoid further chaos and announced Rs 20 lakh aid for kin of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured.
As Mathiyalagan faces arrest, TVK cries conspiracy, demanding a CBI probe. The inquiry commission’s findings could reshape Vijay’s political debut amid mounting grief.