Tamil Nadu stampede: Karur district head of actor-politician Vijay’s party arrested

The Tamil Nadu Police has arrested Mathiyalagan, the Karur district general secretary of actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, in connection with the stampede on September 27 that left 41 dead, The Indian Express reported on Monday.

Three others have been arrested on accusations of spreading rumours about the stampede on social media, said the Chennai Police.

After the stampede, the police filed a case against Mathiyalagan, the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam’s state general secretary ‘Bussy’ Anand and deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar, The Indian Express reported. Vijay himself, however, was not among those booked.

The police have invoked Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, endangering the lives of others and disobeying an order by a public servant, as well as provisions of the Tamil Nadu Public Property Prevention of Destruction and Loss Act, 1982.

The stampede occurred shortly after 7.30 pm on September 27 at the Veluchamy Puram area of the Karur district, where the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief was speaking from atop his campaign vehicle.

Several of those who attended the rally fainted due to overcrowding. Vijay’s speech was interrupted twice as ambulances were brought in to take those who collapsed.

The first information report alleged that while permission had been granted for 10,000 attendees, more than 25,000 persons gathered at the venue. A day...

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