CHENNAI: Expressing ‘agony’ and ‘anguish’ over the death of 41 people during the September 27 roadshow of TVK leader and actor Vijay at Velusamypuram in Karur, and over the failure of the Tamil Nadu government to take stringent action against those responsible, the Madras High Court on Friday constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the tragic incident that shook not only the state but the entire nation.
Asra Garg, Inspector General of Police, North Zone, TN, has been appointed to head the SIT, which has been ordered to commence investigations immediately.
Justice N. Senthilkumar passed the orders while disposing of a petition filed by PH Dinesh of Chennai seeking directions to the Home Secretary and DGP to take appropriate action against those responsible and to refrain from granting permission for roadshows by political parties until a standard operating procedure (SOP) is framed to regulate such events.
“The court cannot close its eyes nor remain a mute spectator or shirk its responsibility,” he said while explaining the decision to set up the SIT.
“The court has responsibility towards its citizens when the state fails to fulfill its obligation to protect the life and limbs of its people viz a viz the political party that has organised such a massive meeting where thousands and thousands of people have gathered to witness or have glimpses of their leader. The leader (Vijay) vanished and disappeared from the place of occurrence. Unfortunate to record that such a leadership is if poor quality,” the judge said.
He “strongly condemned” TVK for flouting the conditions for the event.
“It is their responsibility to rescue the people when they are in peril; children and women lost their lives. But there is no remorse on their part,” the judge said, slamming the TVK leadership and Vijay.
The court also questioned the police’s failure to register criminal cases against those responsible for accidents involving two-wheelers on which Vijay’s fans had mounted, as well as his campaign vehicle during the roadshow.
Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran and State Public Prosecutor Hasan Mohammed Jinnah, representing the state government, said an FIR had been registered in connection with the stampede and the resulting deaths of 41 people.
The State Public Prosecutor added that five individuals, including TVK general secretary Bussy Anand and deputy general secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar, were named in the FIR; of them, two have been arrested, and investigations are ongoing.
Ravindran contended that the state is “not shielding” anyone and that appropriate action would be taken in due course. However, he opposed the court’s decision to constitute the SIT, noting that less than a week had passed since the FIR was filed and the investigation had already begun.
