TVK Flouted Rules, Police Were Prepared, Says Top Cop on Karur Stampede

A day after the tragic stampede in Karur that claimed 40 lives, a top Tamil Nadu police official has stated that actor-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), violated several rules laid out for the event and that a case has been registered . Addressing the media on Sunday, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) S Davidson Devasirvatham also countered the TVK’s claims of a “conspiracy,” clarifying that no stone-pelting incident occurred at the rally .

The ADGP revealed that the police had anticipated a large crowd and had deployed over 500 personnel for the event, stating, “We were fully prepared to handle large crowds, even up to 27,000 people” . He said that while permission was sought for a gathering of 12,000, the police had made arrangements for a much larger turnout . However, he admitted that the TVK had violated some of the conditions for the event, which are now part of the investigation .

According to the police, they had initially suggested an alternative venue with more space to the TVK organizers, but their advice was not heeded . The ADGP pointed out that the situation was aggravated by Vijay’s delayed arrival. The actor was scheduled to arrive at 12:45 pm but reached the venue more than five hours late, by which time the crowd had swelled significantly and grown restless .

The tragic stampede occurred on Saturday when the massive crowd surged forward as Vijay began his speech, leading to the collapse of barricades and a deadly crush . Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin have both expressed their grief over the incident, with the state government announcing compensation for the victims’ families . While the TVK has alleged a “plot” behind the tragedy, the police have firmly stated that they had made adequate arrangements and that the organizers had flouted the rules