Police in Karur have made a key arrest in the investigation into the tragic stampede at Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay’s campaign rally. On Monday, officers took TVK’s West District Secretary, Mathiyazhagan, into custody as the probe into the deadly incident deepens.
The chaos unfolded last week in Velayuthampalayam near Karur, right after Vijay wrapped up his speech to a huge crowd. Witnesses describe how sudden power cuts sparked panic, sending people scrambling toward backup lights and exits. In the crush that followed, 41 lives were lost—including women and children—and more than 60 others suffered injuries. It’s now one of Tamil Nadu’s worst stampedes at a political event.
At first, Karur Deputy Superintendent of Police Selvaraj led the case, but state police brass stepped in and handed it to Additional Superintendent Premanand for a tougher, higher-level look. Investigators have filed charges under five sections, like endangering human lives and ignoring public safety orders, against several TVK leaders. That includes General Secretary Anand, Joint General Secretary Nirmalkumar, and the newly arrested Mathiyazhagan. Right now, Anand’s phone is off, and he’s nowhere to be found.
In a separate move to curb false info, police nabbed three men for posting rumors about the Tamil Nadu stampede on social media. They are Sagayam from Perumbakkam, who’s with the BJP; Sivanesan from Mangadu, linked to TVK; and Sarathkumar from Avadi, a TVK social media handler.
The Karur rally tragedy has sparked heated political debates across Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin shared his sorrow and vowed justice for the victims’ families. “We’ve launched a judicial inquiry, and relief efforts are moving forward,” he said. “Rumors and reckless talk just add pain to those grieving—let’s show restraint.”
Opposition AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami slammed the ruling DMK government, calling the stampede a massive failure in crowd control. “This heartbreaking event exposes serious lapses in administration,” he said. “Why weren’t basic safety rules followed? The government owes answers.”
Vijay himself called the loss “devastating” and pledged 2 million rupees to each affected family. He asked supporters to stay calm and pushed for an impartial investigation. “We must uncover the full truth to stop these tragedies from happening again,” he added.
Authorities keep digging into what went wrong at the Vijay rally in Karur. Expect more TVK officials to face questions soon, as the police probe runs alongside the judicial commission’s work.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
