40 Dead, 100 Injured in Stampede at Vijay's Rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu. TVK Demands CBI Probe, Police File Cases Against Party Leaders.
Karur Rally Stampede: A stampede during actor-turned-politician Vijay's rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on Saturday has shaken the entire state. So far, 40 people have died in this incident, and over 100 are reported injured. The deceased include women and children. The political atmosphere has heated up following the incident. While Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), has demanded a CBI inquiry, the BJP has accused the DMK government of negligence. Police have registered cases under serious sections against TVK leaders in this matter.
How the Incident Occurred
Vijay's rally was organized in Karur on Saturday. The rally venue saw a crowd far exceeding the stipulated limit. The capacity of the event site was approximately 10,000 people, but many more flocked to see and hear Vijay. As Vijay arrived on stage, the crowd suddenly became uncontrollable. People started pushing forward. According to eyewitnesses, chaos ensued, leading to a stampede.
Identification of Victims
40 people lost their lives in this incident. Among them were 10 children, 17 women, and 13 men. Over 100 people are injured, many of whom remain in serious condition. The injured are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
Demand for CBI Inquiry
Vijay's party, TVK, has leveled serious allegations regarding this incident. The party stated that the accident might not be a result of general disarray but a conspiracy. TVK claims that sudden power outages and stone-pelting incidents further exacerbated the stampede. The party has demanded a CBI inquiry into the entire matter and has approached the Madras High Court for this purpose.
Police Action and Allegations
Following the accident, Tamil Nadu Police have registered cases against several leaders of Vijay's party. These include Mathiyazhagan, Bussy Anand, and CT Nirmal Kumar. Cases have been filed against them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to commit culpable homicide, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering life by negligence, disobedience to legal orders, and damage to public property.
Police stated that the incident was not caused by a lathi-charge or stone-pelting. According to their report, after Vijay's arrival, the crowd suddenly surged forward, making it difficult to control the situation.
BJP's Stance and Allegations Against DMK Government
Following the accident, the BJP targeted the DMK government. BJP leader Annamalai stated that the state administration and police neglected security and order, leading to such a major tragedy. He reiterated the demand for a CBI inquiry and alleged that the state government is trying to conceal the truth.
Vijay's Compensation Announcement
Vijay announced compensation for the victim families after the accident. He assured 20-20 lakh rupees to the families of the deceased and assistance for the injured. Vijay was scheduled to visit Karur on Sunday to meet the victims' families, but the state government prevented him, citing security reasons. The government stated that his presence at that time could worsen the law and order situation.
Formation of Judicial Inquiry Commission
The DMK government of Tamil Nadu has formed a judicial commission to investigate this incident. This committee, headed by Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, has commenced its work. The commission's objective is to determine how crowd control failed and who is responsible for it.
Threat to Vijay's House
Amidst these developments, news emerged that Vijay's house had received a bomb threat. Consequently, his security has been heightened. Police stated that the threat is being taken seriously and an investigation is underway.
Crowd Management Failure Behind the Incident
According to officials and eyewitnesses, the biggest reason for the accident was the presence of people far exceeding the stipulated limit at the rally. Crowd management completely failed. Security and control arrangements were inadequate, leading to a rapid deterioration of the situation and its transformation into a tragedy.
