Amid Karur stampede heat, TVK faces new case in Namakkal for violating crowd protocol

Amid facing heat over the tragic stampede in Karur and increasing death toll, actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) functionaries are facing fresh charges in Tamil Nadu's Namakkal, for violating the guidelines for conducting such public meetings. Vijay first spoke at Namakkal before heading to Karur on September 27. 

According to reports, the Namakkal police have booked key functionaries of TVK, including the party's secretary Busy Anand, for violating guidelines issued by the police for conducting a public meeting in Namakkal. According to police, strict guidelines were issued to the party for conducting the meeting, however, they were violated.

The case was registered based on a complaint from Namakkal SI Santhakumar. Twenty conditions were mentioned before granting permission for TVK's rally, however, all of them were violated, police said.

According to police, conditions like actor Vijay's campaign vehicle should not be accompanied by more than five vehicles, the meeting should be concluded by 12 noon, and many others were imposed, however, none of them were followed.

The meeting at Namakkal started only after 12.45pm, and the crowd became restless as the meeting got delayed, police said. TVK functionaries have been booked under five charges, and a probe is underway.

The fresh case against TVK leaders comes amidst the party facing ire over the stampede during the party's meeting in Karur on September 27. The death toll in the tragic incident has increased to 41, and over 50 people are still undergoing treatment at Karur Government Medical College Hospital. The party has moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court seeking a CBI probe over the incident.