On circulating reports of alleged stone-pelting during the meeting, ADGP Davidson Devasirvatham said, “There is no evidence at all; no such incident occurred.”
Published Sep 28, 2025 | 7:56 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 28, 2025 | 7:56 PM
Vijay during the political rally in Karur.
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu ADGP Davidson Devasirvatham has defended the decision to grant permission for a TVK rally in Karur, a day after a stampede at the event killed 40 people. Devasirvatham added that there was no evidence of unrest or stone-pelting. Disctict collector M Thangavelu said post-mortem examinations for 39 victims were completed overnight, and their bodies handed over to families.
Tamil Nadu Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order, Davidson Devasirvatham has defended the decision to grant permission for Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s rally in Karur and the security arrangements made, a day after a stampede at the event claimed 40 lives, including women and children.
“On September 23, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam members submitted a petition requesting permission to hold their meeting at the Lighthouse Roundtana area. However, that location was considered a high-risk zone. On one side there is a large petrol bunk and on the other side a bridge over the Amaravathi River, making it unsuitable for holding a public gathering. Similarly, the Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers’ market) area is also a very narrow space, and hence not feasible,” Devasirvatham said at a joint press meet with District Collector M Thangavelu, IAS at the Karur collectorate on Sunday, 28 September.
“Therefore, permission was granted for the Veluchamipuram ground on September 26, which the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam members themselves had requested. This was already an approved venue where a crowd of about 12,000 people had previously gathered for a meeting.”
He further rejected allegations that insufficient police personnel were deployed.
“The allegation that too few policemen were deployed for security duty is not true. Normally, for such events we classify the venue as low-risk, medium-risk, or high-risk, and deploy forces accordingly. Based on that system, here we had deployed 3 ADSPs, 4 DSPs, 7 Inspectors, and 58 Sub-Inspectors, totalling around 500 police personnel,” he said.
By comparison, security deployment for AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami’s meeting at the same venue two days earlier had involved 137 police personnel, he noted.
“From the police side, the deployment was roughly one policeman for every 20 persons. 500 officers in total were on duty.”
On circulating reports of unrest, he added, “As for the allegation of stone-pelting during the meeting, there is no evidence at all. No such incident occurred.”
Karur District Collector Thangavelu told reporters that 110 people are undergoing treatment in hospitals.
“As soon as the news reached, the Chief Minister, along with the School Education Minister, the Karur MLA, and senior officials from all departments, immediately took charge and carried out the required measures,” he said.
“Medical staff and forensic experts were rushed from nearby districts including Coimbatore, Madurai, Dindigul, and Namakkal. A total of 220 medical personnel and more than 100 nurses are on duty.”
He further said that the death of 40 people has caused ‘deep sorrow for everyone.’
The state government has announced compensation of ₹10 lakh each for the families of the deceased and ₹1 lakh for those injured.
Post-mortem examinations for 39 victims were completed overnight, and their bodies handed over to families.
The ADGP explained that despite the deployment, crowd pressure built because of the delay in Vijay’s convoy reaching the location.
“Based on the information provided by the police, ambulances were rushed to the spot immediately. However, though the usual travel time from Karur Junction to Veluchamipuram is about 20 minutes, it took nearly 2 hours due to the heavy crowd movement,” he said.
He added that supporters arriving from Namakkal poured into the venue during this delay, swelling the crowd well beyond expectations.
“Even if we had deployed 2,000 police personnel, such events can proceed safely only if the organizers cooperate,” Devasirvatham said.
He pointed out that when the Karur DSP suggested stopping Vijay’s vehicle 50 metres before the stage due to the overflowing crowd, the organisers did not agree.
“At that time, supporters who couldn’t see Vijay from both sides rushed toward the middle. Having already waited without food or rest since noon, the crowd was pushed into a highly unsafe and suffocating situation,” he said.
The rally at Veluchamipuram grounds on Saturday drew more than 25,000 to 30,000 people, though the organiser’s estimate submitted to police was 10,000. The party also assured in writing that it would make the necessary arrangements and sought police permission to hold the meeting.
Even as Vijay started speaking, the crowd surged forward for a better glimpse of the Kollywood megastar-turned-politician. In the melee, several people swooned, and children were separated from their guardians.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Subhash Chandra Bose)
