Karur Stampede: Police Make First Big Arrests, 'Prime Accused' TVK Secretary Among 4 Nabbed

Actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's district secretary Mathiyazhagan is among the four people who have been arrested on Monday in connection with the stampede in Tamil Nadu that left 41 dead. Mathiyazhagan has

been arrested on charges of culpable homicide and was accused number one in the First Information Report (dated September 27) registered by the Karur Town police. The TVK district secretary was responsible for hosting and organising Vijay's rally on the day the deadly stampede took place. It is believed that the police gave multiple warnings to Mathiyazhagan and other TVK functionaries about the ground situation and the swelling crowd. Yet, warnings were ignored, and Vijay went ahead with the rally.According to the Chennai Police, the other three individuals have been arrested for spreading rumours about the Karur stampede. These include Sahayam, 38, from Perumbakkam, BJP State Secretary (Art & Culture), Sivaneswaran from Mangadu, a TVK member and Sarathkumar, 32, from Avadi, TVK's 46th Ward Secretary.Following the tragedy, questions were raised over safety arrangements at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president's political event. TVK alleged that the tragedy was not accidental but a result of a "conspiracy" and moved the Madras HC.However, Director General of Police G Venkataraman said the crowd swelled well beyond expectations due to the delayed arrival of the actor-politician.A Commission led by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan has arrived in Karur to probe the stampede incident.

Also Read: TVK Chief Vijay Gets Bomb Threat Day After Karur Stampede; Police, Sniffer Dogs Rushed To Chennai House

Karur stampede: What led to the tragedy?

Many factors, including crowd swelling, contributed to the stampede that claimed 41 lives at actor-politician Vijay's rally, residents who witnessed the event said. Videos from the event showed a sea of people packed tightly together, with several attendees appearing distressed and gasping for air.At one point of time, the crowd swelled and became uncontrollable even as Vijay was addressing the gathering and a number of persons including party workers and a few children fainted and fell down. Several workers noticed the situation and raised an alarm and moments before the tragedy, Vijay was seen pausing his speech to distribute water bottles to those in the crowd and arranging for ambulances as reports of suffocation emerged.However, ambulances had a tough time passing through the heavily crowded thoroughfare to reach the spot. The fainted persons were rushed to nearby hospitals and some of them are still battling for their lives.