- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Tamil Nadu Police on Monday made the first arrest in the case of the deadly stampede that broke out during a political rally of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) chief Vijay in Karur. The police have arrested TVK's district secretary, Mathiyazhagan, on charges of murder, culpable homicide, and endangering public safety.
The action was taken after an FIR was registered in the stampede that claimed the lives of 41 people, while scores of others were injured.
Apart from Mathiazhagan, two other party functionaries have been named in the FIR. Party's state general secretary Bussy Anand and TVK deputy general secretary Nirmal Kumar, have been booked in connection with the stampede. However, actor-turned-politician Vijay has not been named in the FIR.
The party leaders 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 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Preventing of Damage and Loss) Act, 1992, a police official said.
According to FIR, Vijay had remained inside his campaign vehicle at the venue for a long time, leading to overcrowding and restlessness among the crowd that had gathered.
The police added that the stampede broke out when the crowd pushed forward to catch a glimpse of Vijay.
As the venue was too narrow for such a humongous crowd, it quickly became overcrowded, leading to people being trampled. To bring the situation under control, authorities resorted to a lathi-charge. Many who collapsed during the chaos were promptly taken to Karur Government Hospital.
The FIR further states that the crowd climbed over steel sheds and trees to get a better view. But when these collapsed, they fell on the crowd below, resulting in the fatal stampede.