A political controversy has arisen following a deadly stampede at a rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, which resulted in the deaths of at least 41 individuals, including 18 women and 10 children. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has alleged that the incident was instigated by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
On Monday, TVK filed a petition with the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, requesting that the investigation into the stampede be transferred from the Tamil Nadu Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In its writ petition, TVK claimed that the stampede, which occurred on September 27 during a rally led by TVK chief Vijay, was “solely motivated by the DMK and its functionaries.” Arivazhagan, the advocate representing TVK, stated, “A petition has been filed seeking a transfer of the case from the Town Police Station of Karur to the Central Investigation Team for a probe into the entire occurrence.”
Arivazhagan further noted that the petition included various allegations, along with several photographs and relevant documents. The court is scheduled to address the matter on Friday, October 3.
In response to the tragedy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed condolences for the victims and urged the public to refrain from spreading rumors on social media regarding the incident. “The deaths of 41 persons in the tragic incident were very sorrowful, and the victims of the incident should not be viewed as those belonging to a particular party but ought to be seen as fellow Tamils,” Stalin stated.
He described the incident as an unprecedented tragedy and reported his immediate response to mobilize the district administration and visit Karur to console those affected. “What happened in Karur was a great tragedy. My heart is heavy due to the great sorrow,” he noted in a social media post on X.
Stalin admonished those engaging in slander and misinformation about the incident, insisting on responsible behavior in light of the tragedy. “Do not spread rumours, don’t slander on social media about the tragedy in Karur. Everyone should behave responsibly,” he emphasized.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister concluded by describing the haunting scenes he witnessed at the hospital, affirming his commitment to ensure that such tragedies do not occur again.
