Actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has approached the Madras High Court seeking suo motu cognisance of the stampede that occurred during the party’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district on Saturday, Live Law reported.
The party, in its petition, claimed that there were “some conspiracies” at play that led to the stampede. The petition sought a suo motu investigation or a probe by an independent agency.
S Arivazhagan, chief of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam advocates’ wing, also told ANI that the party moved the court seeking that either the Central Bureau of Investigation or a Special Investigation Team carry out an inquiry into the stampede.
The case is likely to be taken up on Monday at the Madurai bench of the court, according to Live Law.
At least 39 persons, including 16 women and eight children, were killed in the stampede at Vijay’s rally in Karur on Saturday. Over 150 persons were hospitalised in Karur and Tiruchirappalli after the incident.
The stampede occurred shortly after 7.30 pm at the Veluchamy Puram area, where the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief was speaking from atop his campaign vehicle.
Several of those who attended the rally fainted due to overcrowding. Vijay’s speech was interrupted twice as ambulances were brought in to take those who collapsed.
Some of his supporters had also climbed a tree to get a better view. One of the branches broke, leading them to fall onto the crowd, sparking further chaos.
The Tamil Nadu government has formed a commission headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate the circumstances that led to the stampede.
When the matter was taken up in the court, the judge raised concerns about accountability if untoward incidents took place during such rallies, Live Law reported.
He directed the state government to frame rules asking political parties to make a deposit at the time of seeking police permissions for rallies, adding that this could then be utilised for payment of compensation in case of damage to public property.
Vijay, being the head of the party, must ensure that its meetings are conducted in a lawful manner and without any damage, the court verbally said.
The judge added that the actor-politician could also set an example by asking pregnant women and disabled persons not to attend such meetings for their own well-being. |
