The arrest comes a day after police filed a case against several people, including Mathiyazhaga, under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide and endangering public safety on Sunday.
Published Sep 29, 2025 | 10:31 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 29, 2025 | 10:31 PM
VP Mathiyazhaga with TVK chief Vijay
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu police arrested Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Karur West District Secretary VP Mathiyazhaga on Monday, two days after a stampede at a public meeting organised by the party claimed 41 lives. Meanwhile, a TVK branch secretary from Virpattu village near Senji in Villupuram district died by suicide after allegedly blaming former minister Senthil Balaji for the tragedy.
Tamil Nadu Police arrested Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Karur West District Secretary VP Mathiyazhaga on Monday, 29 September, two days after a stampede during a public meeting organised by the party and attended by party chief Vijay on Saturday claimed 41 lives.
The arrest comes a day after police filed a case against several people, including Mathiyazhaga, under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide and endangering public safety on Sunday.
Earlier on Monday, the death toll from the stampede rose to 41 after a woman succumbed to her injuries. Thus far, the victims include 14 men, 19 women, four boys and five girls.
Among the deceased, 34 are from Karur district, two each from Erode, Tiruppur and Dindigul districts, and one from Salem district.
In a related development, a TVK branch secretary from Virpattu village near Senji in Villupuram district died by suicide on Monday. Reports say he left a note blaming former minister Senthil Balaji for the Karur stampede.
The deceased, identified as Ayyappan, left a note holding Senthil Balaji responsible for the stampede before hanging himself at his residence, according to reports.
Senji police recovered the body and sent it to Mundiyampakkam Government Hospital for post-mortem. A case has been registered and investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Vijay met with key party leaders at his Pattinapakkam residence and discussed visiting Karur to meet families of the deceased.
Following the stampede, Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (in-charge) G Venkataraman told the media that a large crowd, inadequate facilities and congestion caused the tragedy.
“The TVK headquarters had informed the district police that it was expecting only around 10,000 people to attend the meeting. The party also assured in writing that it would make the necessary arrangements and sought police permission to hold the meeting,” he said.
“Taking into account their earlier rallies in Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur, we had allotted a larger venue in Karur than the one they originally requested. The places they first asked for—the Roundana area and the Uzhavar Sandhai areas—are very small. Only two days ago, another state-level party had conducted its campaign rally in this same venue,” Venkataraman added.
“They had stated an expected crowd of 10,000, but around 27,000 people turned up. Keeping in mind that it would be much more than 10,000, we had already deployed sufficient police personnel for security arrangements,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu police have registered a case against several people, including TVK Karur West District Secretary VP Mathiyazhaga, under four sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide and endangering public safety.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
