NEW DELHI: Police in India have filed a criminal case against senior leaders of Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay’s party after a stampede at his election rally killed 39 people in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district on Saturday. Officials said more than 50 others were injured in the incident.
The case was registered against Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leaders Bussy Anand, Nirmal Kumar and V.P. Mathiyalagan, senior police official V. Selvaraj told Reuters. Authorities said TVK had originally sought permission for a crowd of 10,000 people, but the turnout was more than double.
Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s most popular stars for three decades, said he was “heartbroken” by the tragedy and pledged support for victims’ families. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced compensation of 1 million rupees ($11,300) for each of the families of the deceased.
The state government has appointed a commission led by a retired judge to investigate the causes of the stampede. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident “deeply saddening” in a post on X.
Local media footage showed Vijay speaking from a campaign vehicle as crowds pressed forward, with the actor throwing water bottles to fainting supporters and appealing for police help. Vijay’s TVK, launched last year, has positioned itself against both the state’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of elections early next year.
