The stampede occurred on Saturday when a massive crowd surged at a TVK rally organized by actor-politician Vijay. (Videograb)
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) district secretary, Mathiazhagan, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the deadly Karur rally stampede. Reports say 41 people died and 60 were injured in the incident.
According to NDTV, Mathiazhagan faces charges of murder, culpable homicide, and endangering public safety. India Today reported that he is the prime accused in the FIR filed after the tragedy.
The stampede occurred on Saturday when a massive crowd surged at a TVK rally organized by actor-politician Vijay. Overcrowding and chaos triggered the deadly incident. Many people, including women and children, were crushed in the crowd.
The Indian Express Tamil reported that Mathiazhagan had been absconding after the stampede. Police arrested him on the outskirts of Karur on Sunday.
The FIR accessed on Monday names three key TVK functionaries:
The FIR lists charges under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 125 (endangering life of others), and 223 (disobedience to order) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Public Property (Preventing Damage and Loss) Act 1992 is also included, police told PTI.
Officials stated that the incident occurred because the crowd surged while Vijay delayed his appearance at the rally. Many attendees climbed over steel sheds and trees to get a better view. When these structures collapsed, people below were crushed, resulting in the stampede.
Police officials speaking to PTI said the party and actor Vijay are being held responsible for the incident. The probe into the tragedy continues, with authorities examining the role of organizers and crowd management failures.
The arrest of Mathiazhagan is part of ongoing efforts to bring accountability for the Karur stampede. Investigators continue to review footage and eyewitness accounts to understand how the rally turned deadly.
The tragedy has sparked widespread concern over public safety at political events and rallies in Tamil Nadu. Authorities have promised stricter measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
