Tamil Nadu Police has defended its deployment at TVK chief Vijay’s rally in Karur, where a stampede left dozens dead and many more injured. The force has come under heavy criticism after it emerged that around 500 officers were deployed to manage a crowd of nearly 25,000 people — roughly one officer for every 50 attendees. Critics argued that such deployment was grossly inadequate for an event of this magnitude, especially given the presence of a star figure like Vijay, who commands massive public following.
Senior police officials, however, stood by their calculations. They explained that the rally had originally been granted permission for 10,000 people, but anticipating a larger turnout, they had prepared for about 25,000 attendees. In line with that estimate, 500 officers were deployed, a ratio they say is standard practice for similar political rallies across the state. They also cited previous events of Vijay in other districts where comparable numbers of officers were on duty without any major incidents.
According to the police, what complicated the situation in Karur was not the deployment but an unexpected surge in the crowd when Vijay’s convoy arrived late at the venue. Thousands of supporters rushed in behind his vehicle, overwhelming the barricades and creating bottlenecks. This sudden movement triggered panic and made it difficult for officers to control the flow of people or assist those who had collapsed. Officials also noted that the rally was held on a public road, which added to the logistical difficulties of scaling up deployment and ensuring safe exits.
The force has further stressed that crowd management is a shared responsibility, pointing out that the organisers had given written undertakings to help regulate the gathering. Police sources also indicated that ensuring amenities like drinking water, shade, and orderly entry arrangements fell under the organisers’ purview. The tragedy, they argue, was the result of multiple factors converging, rather than simply the ratio of officers to participants.
Despite the defence, questions remain over whether the police could have anticipated a higher turnout given Vijay’s popularity, and whether emergency measures, such as deploying reserve units or creating more buffer zones, might have reduced the risk. The Tamil Nadu government has already announced an inquiry commission to probe the lapses, and both the police and organisers are expected to come under scrutiny.