Why Are Posters Demanding Vijay's Arrest Emerging in Karur After the Stampede Tragedy?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 41 lives lost due to the stampede.
- Vijay has announced compensation for victims' families.
- Political tensions rise in the aftermath of the tragedy.
- Investigation led by retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan.
- Concerns about crowd-control measures highlighted.
Karur, Sep 29 (NationPress) A wave of unrest has surged through Karur following the tragic stampede during the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and actor-turned-politician Vijay’s election rally in Velusamypuram. Posters demanding his arrest have appeared throughout the town as of Monday.
These posters, attributed to the Tamil Nadu Students' Union, were displayed at multiple prominent locations, but were quickly removed by unknown individuals within hours.
The public reaction stems from the catastrophic event that occurred on Saturday night, where a large crowd gathered to witness Vijay, but the situation escalated into chaos, resulting in a stampede that claimed the lives of 41 individuals and injured over 60 others.
Among the deceased were a two-year-old child, a 28-year-old mother, her two young daughters, and a 24-year-old engaged couple, revealing the profound tragedy's effect on local families.
At least two hospitalized victims remain in critical condition. Despite the severity of the incident, Vijay has yet to reach out to the grieving families or the injured.
Instead, the actor-politician took to social media on Sunday to express his deep sorrow, announcing a compensation of ₹20 lakh for each family that suffered a loss and ₹2 lakh for the injured.
He also suggested that the incident may have been a “political conspiracy” and has approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, requesting either a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or an independent inquiry into the crowd disaster.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin arrived in Karur early on Sunday, around 3 A.M., to support survivors at the government hospital, pay respects to the deceased, and promise extensive assistance to the victims’ families.
CM Stalin indicated that any actions against Vijay or his party would depend on the conclusions of the ongoing investigation led by retired Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, who commenced her inquiry and assessed hospital conditions on Sunday.
Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami criticized the government’s crowd-control strategies, asserting that improved police oversight could have prevented the tragedy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his condolences and announced ₹2 lakh compensation for each bereaved family and ₹50,000 for the injured.
The abrupt emergence of posters and their swift removal highlight the escalating outrage and political sensitivities surrounding the incident, as investigations proceed amid increasing demands for accountability.