The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) public meeting in Puducherry turned tense on Sunday after IPS officer Isha Singh, the Superintendent of Police, forcefully intervened when TVK General Secretary Bussy Anand urged volunteers without passes to enter the heavily restricted venue – a move that triggered crowd surges reminiscent of the Karur stampede that killed 41 people.
The event, held at the Uppalam Helipad Ground, was Vijay’s first large public meeting since the Karur tragedy, and authorities had imposed strict limits: only 5,000 attendees were permitted, and entry required a QR-coded pass scanned at the gate.
Crowd Surges After Bussy Anand Says “Token or Not, You Can Enter”
Despite these controls, thousands began lining up hours before Vijay’s arrival. As the crowds grew restless, Bussy Anand took the microphone and told the waiting volunteers to remain calm, to stop pushing, and that even those without tokens would be allowed inside.
This announcement immediately triggered a surge. Excited volunteers and members of the public including many women pushed against the barricades, causing commotion, gate breaches, and minor injuries to police personnel attempting to maintain order.
When Bussy Anand pressed the request, IPS officer Isha Singh responded firmly, her words cutting through the chaos and immediately going viral on social media: “You are telling me, what am I doing, what are you doing? 40 people have died.”
According to eyewitnesses, her statement brought the commotion to a standstill.
Police sources said Anand’s announcement directly violated the pre-agreed safety protocol. Authorities had repeatedly instructed TVK that no exceptions could be made and that no one should rush forward under any circumstance.
The SP’s anger intensified after a woman police constable was injured in the crush. Officers described the situation as “minutes away from turning into another disaster” before the SP intervened.
Background: Restrictions After Karur Stampede
The Karur tragedy, which claimed 41 lives during a TVK event, has led to multiple denials of permission for Vijay’s political gatherings, including in Salem. Puducherry authorities also rejected a roadshow request citing narrow roads and dense population, granting permission only for a controlled public meeting.
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