Karur stampede: FIR blames Vijay for ‘deliberate’ delay, TVK for ignoring warnings

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-politician Vijay "deliberately" reached late at Velusamypuram in Karur district, leading to overcrowding and restlessness among the people, gathered to attend his rally on September 27, according to an FIR into the stampede incident.

It added that he remained inside his campaign vehicle at the venue for an extended period. However, the police have not booked any case against the actor, but registered an FIR against three key functionaries of the TVK -- district secretary for Karur North Mathiazhagan, party's state general secretary Bussy Anand, and TVK deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar.

They have been booked under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life of others) and 223 (disobedience to order), of the BNS, along with Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Preventing of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992, a police official said.

The toll due to the stampede has also risen to 41 after Suguna, a 65-year-old woman from Karur who had been on ventilator support at the Government Medical College and Hospital, succumbed to her injuries. Of the deceased, 18 are women, 13 men, five girls and five boys.

Meanwhile, a TVK source said the police had asked Vijay not to visit the victims of the September 27 stampede at the government facility due to the sensitive law and order situation.

A one-member inquiry commission led by retired High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan has been set up by the Tamil Nadu Government to probe the stampede. Justice Jagadeesan visited the Government Medical College and Hospital in Karur on Sunday to meet the injured.

Speaking briefly before arriving in Karur, Justice Jagadeesan said the panel would focus on identifying shortcomings and recommending corrective measures. “The commission has been set up to address shortcomings. Incidents like this should not occur in the future, and the necessary remedial measures will be taken,” she said.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accompanied by Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan, visited the Government Medical College Hospital, Karur, and met the injured and enquired about their health condition.

She said she had no words to describe the sorrow of the families who lost their loved ones in the stampede and added that such incidents should not happen again anywhere.

She favoured the framing of a standard operating procedure for public gatherings, especially when there are a large number of women and children, too gather, and that it should be applicable for the entire country.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday reached out to Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin to inquire about the situation in Karur, following the stampede that has claimed 41 lives so far, party sources said. He also spoke with TVK president Vijay to express condolences over the deaths.