Article Body
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam filed a petition with the Madras High Court's Madurai Bench on Sunday seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation or Special Investigation Team probe into a stampede at a party rally in Karur that killed 40 people.
The plea, listed for hearing on Monday, alleges the incident was a conspiracy by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Separately, a relative of one victim filed a counter-petition seeking to restrain TVK from holding further rallies until safety measures are ensured, according to court documents.
The stampede occurred Saturday during a rally led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, TVK's chief, in Karur district, Tamil Nadu. Authorities reported 40 deaths and dozens injured when crowds surged forward amid poor crowd management, police said.
TVK spokesperson R. Kumar told reporters the party suspects sabotage by rivals. "The tragic loss of lives was no accident but a deliberate plot to derail our movement," Kumar said. The Tamil Nadu government has not commented on the allegations.
In a related development, Vijay received an anonymous bomb threat at his Neelankarai residence in Chennai on Sunday evening. A bomb detection squad and sniffer dogs searched the property and found no explosives, Chennai police said.
Security has been tightened at Vijay's home and TVK offices, officials added. Police registered a case under anti-terrorism laws and are investigating the threat's origin.
The Madurai Bench will hear both petitions on Monday. TVK has postponed all upcoming events pending the court's decision, the party said.
Comments