Karur Collector appears again before CBI for inquiry in stampede case

Karur Collector M. Thangavel on Thursday appeared again before the CBI officers in connection with the stampede that claimed 41 lives at the rally addressed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president Vijay on September 27.

It was his second appearance before the central agency within three days. Acting on a summon, Mr. Thangavel met the officers on Tuesday. He was quizzed for more than two hours and he answered a volley of questions prepared by the agency.

Informed sources told The Hindu that the statement of the Collector was recorded during the course of the inquiry by the CBI officials at the Circuit House. He was quizzed on many aspects of the permission granted to the TVK rally, the circumstances that led to the stampede, the preparedness, and the response management of the district administration during the pre and post stampede period, adequacy of the crowd management, the scheme of security and safety protocol and others.

Personal Assistant (general) to the Collector Ureka accompanied Mr. Thangavel to assist him during the course of inquiry. After the completion of inquiry with him, several doctors attached to the government hospitals in the neighbouring districts, who were pressed into service to carry out post-mortem on the bodies at the Karur Government Medical College and Hospital, appeared before the CBI officials for questioning.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court appointed Justice Ajay Rastogi committee monitoring the CBI investigation into the stampede case wrapped up its three-day visit to Karur on Thursday.

Justice Rastogi, assisted by Additional Directors-General of Police Sumit Sharan and Sonal V. Mishra, examined various spots at Velusamypuram on the Karur-Erode Highway, the scene of stampede, mapping the sequence of events that led to the stampede, besides reviewing the progress of the case with the CBI officers.