Karur Stampede: Police Blame Actor Vijay for ‘Deliberate Display of Power’ That Killed 41

Tragedy Sparks Political War Between DMK and Vijay’s TVK Ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu Elections

Stampede at Vijay’s Karur Rally Leaves 41 Dead

In a shocking turn of events, the tragic stampede that killed 41 people at actor Vijay’s political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is now being attributed to a “deliberate display of political power”, according to an FIR filed by the police. The incident, which occurred during a public gathering organized by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has triggered a political storm ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Delayed Arrival, Unscheduled Roadshow Blamed

The FIR claims:

The rally was set to begin at 9 AM, with Vijay expected to speak by 12 noon.
However, the actor arrived only at 7 PM, a 7-hour delay that police say was a calculated move to build crowd anticipation.
Vijay’s campaign bus made multiple unscheduled stops, turning into an unauthorized roadshow.
These stops disrupted traffic and created massive crowding, with no proper food, water, or safety measures in place.

Police Say Safety Warnings Ignored

Senior TVK leaders, including Vijay and former Puducherry MLA N ‘Bussy’ Anand, allegedly ignored police warnings about poor crowd control and safety infrastructure.

Key details from the FIR:

TVK supporters broke through police barricades.
Some climbed onto a shed’s tin roof, which collapsed, resulting in multiple deaths.
The police had deployed 500 personnel, anticipating 25,000 attendees. However, over 27,000 people showed up.

Political Fallout: TVK vs DMK

The stampede has led to a fierce political battle:

The TVK accused ruling party DMK of engineering a criminal conspiracy.
TVK’s lawyer, Arivazhagan, has filed a petition with the Madras High Court demanding either a CBI probe or a special investigation team.
“We did not violate any police-imposed conditions,” Arivazhagan stated, citing previous successful rallies in Madurai, Trichy, Ariyalur, and more.

The DMK, on the other hand, has refrained from escalating the matter politically. Party spokesperson Dr Syed Hafeezullah said, “We don’t want to politicize this. The law will take its course.”

Vijay’s Party Blames Police, Demands CBI Probe

The TVK has also criticized police actions, alleging:

Power was cut during Vijay’s speech, triggering panic.
Anti-social elements infiltrated the crowd and threw stones.
Police resorted to lathi charge and drove ambulances into the crowd, causing more chaos.

TVK leader Aadhav Arjun reiterated the conspiracy allegations in his court petition, demanding a central investigation.

Top Cop Speaks Out: ‘The Crowd Was Unmanageable’

Davidson Devasirvatham, ADGP (Law & Order), admitted:

“We couldn’t even move the injured through the crowd. Even Vijay himself could not be taken out.”

Despite a large deployment of officers, the situation became uncontrollable. Devasirvatham noted that a recent AIADMK rally in the same location had no issues, even with fewer officers, because it attracted a more “orderly crowd.”

Victim Compensation Announced

Among the deceased were 18 women and 10 children.

Compensation announced for the families of the 41 victims:

₹10 lakh from the Tamil Nadu state government
₹20 lakh from TVK (Vijay’s party)
₹2 lakh from the BJP-led central government

Chief Minister Stalin Appeals for Calm

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin released a video statement on X (formerly Twitter), urging citizens to stay calm and avoid spreading rumours:

“Do not spread defamation and rumours on social media about Karur. Everyone must behave responsibly.”

A Tragedy with Political Ramifications

As the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections approach, the Karur stampede may significantly impact the political landscape. While investigations are ongoing, both TVK and DMK are trading accusations, each attempting to control the narrative surrounding one of the state’s deadliest political events in recent history.’