Karur Stampede: Madras High Court Orders SIT Probe, Criticizes TVK Party Workers
The Madras High Court ordered the formation of the Special Investigation Team to investigate the fatal Karur stampede, which occurred on 27 September during the actor/politician Vijay’s political rally. This tragic event claimed the lives of 41 people and left more than 60 others injured. It was one of Tamil Nadu’s worst crowd disasters.
Asra Garg will be the senior IPS officer who leads the SIT’s investigation of the Karur stampede. Garg is currently the Inspector General for Police in the North Zone. After a thorough review of the seriousness of the incident and the necessity for an extensive investigation to determine accountability, the court made its decision.
A single-judge bench at the Madras High Court criticized the TVK functionaries for their inability to manage crowds during the deadly rally. The judge raised specific concerns regarding why the TVK failed to manage the crowd and its unruly members’ conduct during Vijay’s Karur roadshow. This included the destruction of property and a rampage.
Karur’s stampede case took a new turn after the Karur High Court dismissed an application for a Central Bureau of Investigation investigation. The bench rejected the CBI request and directed the petitioner, who was also the CBI investigator in the case, to proceed with the Madurai High Court bench for the next steps.
The Madras High Court rejected on Friday the anticipatory bond application filed by TVK District Secretary N Sathish Kumar in a case related to the Karur stampede. Kumar sought bail before arrest in the Karur stampede case. The court rejected his request, showing the severity with which it is being treated.
Vijay organized the September 27th rally in Karur as part of his political activities to promote TVK, his newly formed party. The devastating stampede was caused by poor crowd control and insufficient safety measures. This incident raised questions regarding event management protocol and political party responsibility in terms of public safety at large gatherings.
In its criticism of TVK officials, the court highlights how important it is to have proper mechanisms in place for crowd control during political events. Judge’s comments about TVK’s inability to effectively manage the situation highlight the importance of better planning and coordination for mass gatherings.
SIT will investigate all aspects of this incident, including crowd control strategies and officials’ roles in it. It is likely that the investigation will focus on the safety protocol and whether or not proper permissions have been obtained during rally planning.
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The tragic Karur incident is a reminder that crowd safety during events should be a priority. The decision of the court to set up an SIT is a reflection of its commitment to ensure a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to trial.
Families of those 41 Karur victims continue to demand answers for the tragedy they have suffered. Asra Garg is leading the SIT, which will provide answers on what led to this tragedy.
The Karur stampede took place on 27 September during a rally held by the party of actor and politician Vijay, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. This incident led to 41 fatalities and more than 60 injuries. It was one of the worst crowd disasters that Tamil Nadu has ever seen.
