Madras High Court forms SIT to probe stampede during Vijay’s Karur rally

The Madras High Court on Friday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the stampede during actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Karur district on September 27. The SIT team will be headed by Inspector-General of Police (North) Asra Garg.

The high court also ordered the Karur police to hand over related documents to the Asra Garg-led SIT team.

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At least 41 people were killed and more than 80 others sustained injuries in the stampede during Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s rally.

While Vijay alleged a conspiracy, the Tamil Nadu government claimed that the stampede broke out due to lapses in crowd management.

 

Earlier on Friday, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court issued directions to the state government to halt public meetings or events on state and national highways in Tamil Nadu until SOPs are ready.

The bench passed the interim order while hearing a batch of pleas seeking directions to frame SOPs for mass gatherings to evade incidents similar to the Karur stampede.