Tamil Nadu police reject TVK claims of stone-pelting at Karur rally. 40 deaths occurred due to crowd mismanagement and ignored police warnings.
BY PC Bureau
The Tamil Nadu police on Sunday refuted claims by actor-politician Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), regarding the tragic stampede in Karur on Saturday evening that claimed at least 40 lives. TVK had alleged that stone pelting triggered the chaos, but authorities dismissed these claims, stating the disaster was caused by defiance of police orders and massive crowd mismanagement.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Davidson Devasirvatham explained at a press briefing that the rally, initially scheduled for an earlier time, was delayed by nearly six hours. This delay caused people from Namakkal, where another rally was planned, to converge at Karur, resulting in a crowd far larger than the 12,000 permitted by authorities. Police had deployed adequate personnel based on the initial estimate, but the unexpected surge became unmanageable.
“Organisers were advised to hold the speech in a safer area with fewer people, but the advice was ignored. The lack of lighting on Vijay’s bus further contributed to crowd movement and chaos,” ADGP Davidson said. The officer denied any intelligence failure in anticipating the gathering size.
The tragedy unfolded as frustration and fatigue mounted among the crowd, who waited hours under punishing conditions with little water, shade, or medical assistance. When Vijay finally arrived, the surge toward the stage triggered a deadly stampede near a shed housing a generator and a broadcast van. Narrow entry points, absent barricades, and insufficient medical preparedness transformed mismanagement into mass casualties.
READ: Karur Stampede: Why the Buck Must Stop with Vijay
TVK’s claims of stone pelting and police lathi-charge are unsupported by eyewitness accounts or video footage. Hundreds of cameras captured the rally, none showing external provocation. Experts say the responsibility lies squarely with the organizers and Vijay himself.
A father carrying his dead son, who was killed in the stampede at actor Vijay’s rally in #Karur
Actor Vijay, without meeting anyone, flew away in a private jet with his security. pic.twitter.com/oxzlggVkCc
— Yanika_Lit (@LogicLitLatte) September 27, 2025
Even as panic spread, Vijay continued his speech, prioritizing political theatrics over safety. Reports confirm attendees were fainting and ambulances struggled to reach the injured, yet the rally was not halted immediately. Authorities and safety experts note that a responsible leader should have stopped at the first signs of chaos.
TVK has approached the Madras High Court seeking an independent probe by the CBI or SIT, alleging a conspiracy behind the stampede. They claim stone-pelting, power outages, and alleged police actions contributed to the tragedy. However, police insist the deaths were the result of negligence and disregard for safety protocols.
READ: Who is Mithun Manhas, the New Boss of Indian Cricket?
The Karur stampede highlights a critical issue: accountability in political rallies. Ensuring crowd management, medical readiness, water supplies, and barricades are standard responsibilities of organizers. Vijay, as the rally’s chief figure, cannot absolve himself of liability for the loss of 40 lives.
