The Tamil Nadu government appointed retired High Court judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan to lead the inquiry into the stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rally in Karur. The tragedy killed at least 39 people, including nine children, and injured more than 50 on Saturday night.
The state government also announced ₹10 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased. Chief Minister MK Stalin deputed ministers, including Ma Subramanian, to oversee medical treatment and relief work. TVK chief Vijay announced financial assistance of ₹20 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹2 lakh for the injured.
Rally Details and Stampede Causes
The rally was scheduled to start at 3 pm, but Vijay arrived at 7:30 pm. Police said the organisers had requested permission for a crowd of around 10,000. However, nearly 27,000 people showed up, far exceeding expectations, according to DGP in charge of Tamil Nadu, G Venkatraman.
Authorities also noted that the venue lacked enough food and water for the large crowd. People had been waiting for hours under the sun, contributing to the chaos that led to the stampede.
Who Is Justice Aruna Jagadeesan?
Justice Aruna Jagadeesan retired as a puisne judge of the Madras High Court in March 2015. She served from 2009 until retirement and handled several high-profile cases and inquiries.
She headed the commission investigating the 2018 Thoothukudi anti-Sterlite protests, where police firing left 13 people dead and over 100 injured. Her report recommended action against 17 police officials, including IPS officers.
She was also part of a High Court bench that in 2015 gave a clean chit to Chennai Police in the Velachery alleged fake encounter case, dismissing pleas for a CBI probe and ruling that police action was justified.
Justice Jagadeesan has probed wealth-related cases of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and her associates. She also presided over the 2002 custodial death case of Karuppi, a Dalit woman, overturning the lower court’s conviction and acquitting eight policemen due to lack of evidence.
Judicial Career Overview
Her career includes both high-profile inquiries and controversial rulings. Legal activists and human rights groups have criticised some of her decisions. Despite the controversies, she is considered experienced in handling sensitive investigations and commissions.
Inquiry and Next Steps
The commission led by Justice Jagadeesan will investigate the causes of the Karur stampede. It will also examine the arrangements, crowd control measures, and responsibilities of organisers to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Authorities stressed that the inquiry aims to ensure accountability and safety in public events, especially political rallies that draw large crowds.
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