Post by : Meena
Hassan
TVK leader Vijay has received a summons from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an inquiry tied to the tragic Karur stampede. He is required to present himself before officials on January 12. This summons follows a directive from the Supreme Court requesting a CBI probe into the incident.
The deadly stampede unfolded during Vijay’s rally on September 27, claiming 41 lives and injuring around 60 individuals. The crowd exceeded 30,000 people despite the venue accommodating only about 10,000. Authorities pointed to violations in security measures and a lack of adequate provisions for food and water, aggravating the perilous situation.
While Vijay was scheduled to arrive by noon, he reached the venue at approximately 7 pm. By then, the crowd had intensified, and his arrival seemed to incite further frenzy as his campaign bus moved through. Attendees climbed trees, rooftops, and power lines, prompting officials to disable electricity to avoid electrocution. As Vijay finally appeared, excitement surged, leading to pushing and shoving among the crowd, causing several to faint. Police had to employ a lathi charge to regain control.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Vijay pledged Rs 20 lakh in compensation to each family of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh to those injured. Following the incident, he also suspended his statewide tour.
Mathiyazhagan, TVK's Karur West District Secretary, was detained for safety oversight but was released soon after the court declined to extend his custody.
A month post-tragedy, Vijay met with the victims’ families at a resort in Mamallapuram near Chennai. He apologetically addressed the families for the tragedy and for his delayed visit to Karur, stating, “I felt guilty for not being able to see you. Now that I have, I can finally move forward.”
English
