PTI photo
KARUR/CHENNAI: TN police arrested Monday night Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s Karur district secretary Mathiazhagan, who is among three senior functionaries of actor Vijay’s party named as prime suspects in the Sept 27 stampede that killed 41 people. & A Selvaraj.General secretary Bussy Anand, joint general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar and Mathiazhagan were mentioned in an FIR that alleged delays, mismanagement, and chaos at Vijay’s campaign rally in Karur triggered the fatal crowd crush. Police said prolonged wait in the heat, lack of water and medical facilities, and overcrowding set off panic.The FIR filed by Karur town police alleged the rally was “deliberately delayed”.Cops arrest 3, say they spread false info online that led to panicTV channels had announced Vijay would arrive at noon. Crowds began gathering from 10am and while organisers had sought permission for 10,000 volunteers, more than 25,000 showed up.Around 500 policemen were deployed. According to the complaint, Vijay entered Karur via Velayudhapalayam and Thavittupalayam at 4.45pm, allegedly holding unsanctioned road shows and parking his vehicle in the middle of the crowd, worsening congestion. Despite repeated warnings to TVK functionaries to control volunteers, the FIR said, supporters climbed tin sheds and trees that later collapsed and crushed people below. Police have registered a case under sections of BNS and Tamil Nadu Property (Prevention of Damage and Loss) Act.While the whereabouts of the accused are unknown, police simultaneously moved against online misinformation. Three men — Sagayam, 38, of Perumbakkam; Sivanesan, 35, of Mangadu; and Sarathkumar, 32, of Avadi — were arrested Monday for circulating false claims that fuelled panic. They were produced before a magistrate and remanded in custody. Police also filed cases against 25 social media accounts tracked by a special monitoring unit.
