India's top court orders probe into Tamil Nadu stampede that killed 41

NEW DELHI, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- India's top court Monday ordered the country's premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to probe into last month's stampede that claimed 41 lives and injured dozens of others during a political party rally of a popular film star in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, officials said.

The apex court said an independent investigation was necessary "to allay concerns and ensure impartiality."

It also constituted a three-member monitoring committee, chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Rastogi, to supervise the progress of the CBI probe.

The stampede broke out last month during a political rally of actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar in Karur district, about 387 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. Vijay was campaigning for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party ahead of local elections scheduled early next year.