One woman died at a temple procession organized by the AIADMK in Tiruvannamalai for speedy recovery for TN CM Jayalalithaa on Tuesday. The Tamil Nadu government has ordered the suspension of a police inspector for failing to control the crowd.
According to The Indian Express, the ‘milk pot procession’ at Pachaiamman temple in Tiruvannamalai town on Monday was organized by AIADMK minister 'Agri' Krishnamoorthy. 5,000 people were at the event.
When it was announced that the 5,000 stainless steel pots distributed to carry milk for the procession need not be returned, women rushed to grab the pots. Police were completely unprepared for this, according to reports.
“The police were not informed about the event in advance. As it was announced that participants could take the steel pots, there was a huge rush to collect the pots, which ended in the accident,” a senior police officer told The Times of India. AIADMK has not responded to the claims that police were not intimated beforehand.
The injured were admitted to Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital. Kamala Sammantham of VOC Nagar, died.
While the police have not registered a case against the AIADMK minister, the police confessed that they were informed only 45 minutes before the event.
However, Tiruvannamalai town police station inspector G Suresh was placed under suspension.
Previously on Sunday, AIADMK workers organized special prayers at the Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hills for the Chief Minister’s recovery.
About 20-30 AIADMK members pulled a chariot involved in the procession.