Chennai: The Velusamypuram area in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district, now synonymous with a devastating stampede that claimed over 41 lives, was not the initial choice for Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay’s campaign rally. New details reveal a protracted, multi-day negotiation with the police, which saw several locations rejected for safety reasons before permission was finally granted for the fateful venue under a strict set of 11 conditions.
The process began on September 19th when TVK executives formally sought permission for Vijay’s Karur campaign tour, proposing six potential locations: Karur Bus Stand, near Vengamedu MGR Statue, 80 Feet Road, Lighthouse, Veluchamipuram, and Thirumanilayur New Bus Stand. The police immediately refused the Karur Bus Stand, citing its status as a prohibited zone for public meetings. TVK then pivoted to the Lighthouse Corner area, but police permission was again denied. Authorities advised the party to find an alternative location, leading to a period of delay as the campaign team struggled to secure a viable site.
In a second petition on September 25th, TVK contested the police’s assessment, claiming they had measured the Uzhavar Market and Lighthouse areas with an engineer and found space for 60,000 people, with an expected turnout of 10,000. The police stood firm, maintaining that the spaces were too narrow, capable of safely holding only 5,000 and 10,000 people respectively.
Karur Vijay Rally: The 11 Conditions Imposed by the Police
With other options exhausted, TVK submitted a final request the day before the rally, specifically seeking permission for Velusamypuram. After an hour-long meeting between TVK General Secretary N Anand and Karur District Superintendent of Police Selvaraj, conditional approval was granted.
The Karur District Superintendent of Police, Selvaraj, granted permission subject to the following 11 strict conditions aimed at ensuring public safety and order:
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No Banners on Medians: Flex banners were not to be placed on the central median areas of the venue.
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Volunteers Off Medians: Volunteers were prohibited from standing on the central medians.
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Prevent Traffic Congestion: The organizers were required to cooperate with the police to ensure the event did not cause traffic jams.
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Organized Vehicle Parking: The organizers had to arrange for volunteers’ vehicles to be parked in an orderly manner.
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Permission from Electricity Board: The venue required proper permission from the Electricity Board.
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Give Way to Emergency Vehicles: Volunteers had to give way to any emergency vehicles that needed to pass.
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First Aid Arrangements: Arrangements for first aid treatment had to be made due to the expected large crowd.
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Fire Department Permission: Proper permission had to be obtained from the Fire Department to hold a public meeting.
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Corporation Permission for Banners: Permission had to be obtained from the local Corporation for all flex banners.
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No Road Shows: Only the stationary public meeting was permitted; no road shows that could disturb the public were allowed.
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Post-Event Cleanup: All flags and banners had to be removed immediately after the meeting concluded.
Additional Condition Mentioned: The police also imposed a condition that no LED screens or stages could be set up without specific permission.
Despite this exhaustive list of safety conditions designed to mitigate risk, the event spiralled into tragedy. The rally culminated in a catastrophic stampede, resulting in the deaths of more than 41 individuals, including nine children, leaving a community in mourning and raising serious questions about crowd management and on-ground implementation of safety protocols.