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Tamil Nadu Stampede: A stampede at a political rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district on Saturday claimed the lives of 40 people, including children and women. Tens of thousands of supporters had been gathering at the Karur rally since noon to meet their hero, actor-turned politician Vijay. However, Vijay arrived around 7 PM, and a crowd of approximately 27,000 gathered at the venue designed to hold around 10,000, leading to overcrowding and a stampede.

Retired Madras High Court Justice Aruna Jagadeesan has been appointed to investigate the stampede at the political rally. The opposition parties claimed that the delay was deliberate, and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders wanted the crowd to swell. However, TVK’s lawyer, Arivazhagan, refuted the claims, saying, “The delay was not on our part. The delay was caused by poor traffic.” The TMK party has alleged a “DMK conspiracy” behind the tragic stampede and urged the Madras High Court to appoint a Special Investigation Team or transfer the case to the central agency, CBI.

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Here Are The Latest Updates:

- Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party, TVK, has alleged a “DMK conspiracy” behind the stampede at yesterday’s Karur rally, which claimed the lives of 40 people and left several injured.

- TVK’s lawyer, Arivazhagan, said that the party has filed a petition in the Madras High Court, urging the court to either set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or transfer the case to the central agency, CBI.

- The matter will be raised before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court tomorrow, NDTV quoted Arivazhagan as saying.

- Arivazhagan refuted the state government’s claims that safety protocols were violated at the rally. He said similar events have been organised in Madurai, Trichy, Ariyalur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Namakkal without issues.

- Calling for an independent investigation, he said, “the court must constitute a Special Investigation Team or transfer the case from Tamil Nadu police to the CBI.”

- When asked if TVK mistrusts the state police’s investigation, Arivazhagan said, “There was a criminal conspiracy. We received reliable information from local people, and the footage supports this.” He claimed that the CCTV footages suggest the involvement of some ruling party functionaries in the conspiracy.

- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered a judicial probe into the stampede. He has appointed a committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan. He has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased's kin.

- A police case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with other charges, has been lodged against TVK leaders, TVK's general secretary N Anand, joint general secretary Nirmal Kumar and Karur West district secretary, VP Mathiyazhagan

- The state government has flagged safety violations at the actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Karur rally.

- According to the state government, while only 10,000 people were expected, 27,000 people showed up, leading to overcrowding and a stampede.

- People started gathering at the Karur rally venue from noon to meet their hero Vijay; however, he arrived at 7 PM.

- “There was no water or food facility, causing people to faint. Vijay spoke for less than three minutes. He doesn’t know politics—he’s just an actor, and this is his first time in politics. If they wanted to hold such an event, they should have chosen a proper venue,” a witness said.

- “My heart is shattered at this tragedy,” TVK Chief Vijay said in a statement.

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