Senior CBI officer assesses the progress of the investigation into Karur stampede

CBI Deputy Inspector-General of Police Atul Kumar Thakur on Monday visited Velusamypuram on the Karur-Erode Highway, where 41 people were killed in a stampede during a rally addressed by Tamilaga  Vettri Kazhagam president Vijay on September 27.

Mr. Thakur took stock of the progress of the investigation being carried out by the central agency on the orders of the Supreme Court.

Accompanied by CBI officials who have been camping in Karur for over five weeks since the case was transferred to the agency from a Madras High Court-constituted Special Investigation Team, Mr. Thakur visited the scene of stampede and studied the area. He held spot consultations with the officials. He examined the place where Mr. Vijay addressed the gathering from atop his campaign vehicle and spots where ambulances picked up bodies or injured persons and the background of these places.

Earlier, Mr. Thakur visited the Circuit House in Karur, which is being used as a temporary office by the CBI team, and held discussions with the officials. Officials explained to him the progress of the investigation.

Mr. Thakur’s exercise assumes significance in the wake of the proposed visit of the Supreme Court-appointed committee overseeing the probe. The committee, led by retired Supreme Court judge Ajay Rastogi, will visit the scene of stampede on Tuesday. The three-member committee will spend about three days in Karur to assess the progress of the case.

The CBI has so far conducted inquiries with a number of persons.  TVK general secretary N. Anand alias ‘Bussy’ Anand and party Karur West district secretary V.P. Mathiyazhagan, who were cited as accused, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and an inspector of police in Karur  were among those who were questioned. Several policemen, who were on duty at the meeting spot and the adjacent places, and the owners and drivers of ambulances were also questioned. It has conducted inquiries with a number of injured persons and the relatives of those killed in the stampede.

In a statement, Karur Collector M. Thangavel said the Ajay Rastogi  committee would visit Karur on Tuesday. Those who were affected by the stampede, members of the public, and representatives of associations could meet the committee members at the Circuit House near the Collectorate from 10.30 a.m. and present petitions.