A man was caught with a pistol at the Puducherry venue where Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay is scheduled to address supporters, triggering heightened security concerns on Tuesday. The incident comes ahead of Vijay’s first public meeting since the Karur stampede, which killed at least 41 people, putting today’s event under intense scrutiny.
According to Puducherry Police, the man was intercepted during routine checks at the Expo Ground in Uppalam, the site of today’s two-hour public meeting. Officials confirmed that the weapon was seized and the individual taken into custody for questioning. Further details about his identity or intent are awaited, but police sources indicated that the incident occurred before Vijay’s
arrival and did not disrupt the ongoing preparations.
The dramatic security breach comes a day after authorities issued stringent crowd-control measures to prevent any repeat of the Karur disaster. Senior Superintendent of Police (Law & Order) R. Kalaivanan had granted permission for the meeting with a strict attendance cap of 5,000 people, all of whom must be Puducherry residents. Only those with QR-coded entry passes issued by TVK will be allowed inside, and children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and individuals with health issues have been barred for safety reasons.
The meeting, scheduled between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 pm, will see Vijay address supporters from a specially arranged campaign vehicle rather than a traditional stage — another precaution taken after the Karur stampede. The vehicle was brought into the Union Territory on Monday night, and Vijay is expected to reach the venue by car around 11 a.m.
Police have prohibited roadside parking and designated specific parking zones at Pondy Marina, the Old Port, and behind the Indira Gandhi Stadium. TVK has also issued a nine-point advisory to cadres, insisting on full cooperation with law enforcement and reaffirming that no supporters from outside Puducherry will be allowed entry.
With today’s event being Vijay’s first major public appearance since a tragedy that shook Tamil Nadu, the unexpected detention of an armed individual has only heightened concerns — but authorities say all measures are in place to ensure the safety of attendees.
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