Karur, Sep 29 (IANS) Police investigating the deadly stampede that killed 41 people during Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay’s campaign rally in Karur have arrested the party’s West District Secretary, Mathiyazhagan, as the probe widened on Monday.
The tragedy occurred last week after Vijay completed his speech at a packed ground in Velayuthampalayam near Karur.
Witnesses said sudden power cuts caused panic, leading people to rush toward backup lighting and exit points.
In the ensuing crush, 41 people, including women and children, lost their lives, and more than 60 were injured. Initially, Karur Deputy Superintendent of Police Selvaraj was handling the case, but the state’s top police leadership replaced him with Additional Superintendent Premanand to lead a more high-level investigation.
Police have registered cases under five sections, including causing danger to human life and disobeying public orders, against several TVK functionaries — General Secretary Anand, Joint General Secretary Nirmalkumar, and now Mathiyazhagan. Police say Anand has gone incommunicado with his phone switched off.
In a parallel crackdown on disinformation, officers arrested three men — Sagayam from Perumbakkam (BJP), Sivanesan from Mangadu (TVK), and Sarathkumar from Avadi (a TVK social media administrator) — for spreading rumours about the incident on social media. The tragedy has triggered sharp political reactions.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed deep grief and promised justice for the victims.
“We have ordered a judicial inquiry, and relief measures are underway. Speculations and irresponsible comments will only hurt grieving families,” he said, urging restraint.
Opposition AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami demanded accountability from the ruling DMK and questioned crowd control measures.
“This horrific incident shows gross administrative failure. The government must answer why safety protocols were not enforced,” he said.
Vijay, who personally announced Rs 20 lakh compensation for each bereaved family, called the stampede “heartbreaking” and urged his supporters to remain calm.
He has sought a fair and independent probe, saying, “We need the truth to come out so such tragedies never repeat.”
Authorities continue to review the sequence of events that led to one of Tamil Nadu’s deadliest political rallies.
Investigators are expected to question more TVK functionaries in the coming days as the judicial commission and police probe proceed in parallel.
Meanwhile, Police in Tamil Nadu's Karur have intensified action against senior functionaries of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) in connection with the September 27 stampede that killed 41 people during actor-politician Vijay’s election rally at Velayuthampalayam.
According to official sources, steps are underway to arrest TVK General Secretary N. Anand, Joint General Secretary C.T.R. Nirmalkumar, and District Secretary Mathiyazhagan.
A special police team has been constituted to trace and take them into custody for questioning after they allegedly ignored repeated safety warnings ahead of the fatal crowd surge.
As per reports, local police and officials had cautioned TVK organisers — specifically Anand, Nirmalkumar and Mathiyazhagan — about the risks of congestion and potential suffocation, urging better crowd control and space management.
However, officers say these warnings were disregarded, contributing to the deadly stampede.
Actor Vijay, who leads TVK, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, called the incident a “political conspiracy” and sought an independent probe.
Opposition parties, including the AIADMK and BJP, have demanded accountability from the ruling DMK for the lapses that led to the stampede. With the special police team now actively pursuing the absconding TVK office-bearers, the focus has shifted to fixing individual responsibility even as the judicial inquiry continues.
