Chennai: Following the stampede in Karur, TVK has announced the postponement of actor and party chief Vijay’s campaign for the next two weeks. A statement issued by TVK on Wednesday said that while we are saddened and pained by the passing of our loved ones, the public meetings scheduled for the next two weeks of our association president are temporarily postponed. We would like to inform you that new events for public meetings will be announced with the approval of our Association President.
On September 27, 41 people were killed in a stampede at TVK chief Vijay’s election rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district. The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a one-member commission of inquiry headed by former Madras High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagdishan into the case.
Meanwhile, Karur police have arrested TVK’s district secretary Mathiazhan and another leader, Poon Raj. In addition, the police have formed a special team to arrest TVK leader Pusi Anand and others. In such a situation, Vijay’s election meeting has been postponed for the next two weeks
A man injured in the stampede has filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking a stay on organising Vijay’s rally by TVK till the investigation into the incident is completed. The petitioner, a resident of Karur, has urged the high court to direct the Tamil Nadu DGP not to allow any public meeting or rally of Vijay till the investigation into the incident is completed, responsibility is fixed and safeguards taken.
According to the FIR registered by the Karur police in connection with the stampede incident, the incident occurred due to the deliberate delay in actor Vijay’s event by TVK leaders to mobilize the crowd and display their power. In the FIR registered on September 27 at Karur Nagar police station, a case has been registered against TVK general secretary Pusi Anand, joint secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar, Karur TVK district secretary Mathia Jhagan and several activists.
According to the FIR, the application given by TV leaders to the police said that only 10,000 volunteers would come to the gathering, while more than 25,000 people came to see Vijay. According to the police, the organisers deliberately delayed Vijay’s arrival in Karur by 4 hours in order to show political power.
