A massive crowd at the Speedway ground at Nullipady led to a clash and an hour-long chaos on Sunday night, bringing Kasaragod town to a standstill during the final day of the three-day ‘Kasaragod Flea Festival. The event, organised to promote small businesses and women entrepreneurs, descended into disorder after thousands poured into the venue to watch singer Hanan Shah, a recent social media sensation.
Organisers struggled to control the swelling numbers, with nearly three times as many people gathering outside the gates as those already inside. When Hanan Shah arrived around 9 p.m. people holding tickets attempted to force their way in, resulting in several injuries.
Police, noticing the escalating situation outside the ticket counter, intervened and instructed the singer to halt the show after just two songs. The announcement triggered tension among the crowd, many of whom refused to disperse despite repeated requests. As the situation turned violent, the police were forced to resort to lathi-charge to push back the crowd and restore order.
The chaos spilled onto nearby roads, choking traffic for hours. Vehicles, including ambulances, struggled to move as congestion intensified around the venue and adjoining city roads. Police and Fire and Rescue Services teams were deployed to clear the route, but movement remained paralysed for a considerable amount of time.
