In a significant development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the suspension of Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda and several senior police officials following a tragic stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, which resulted in the deaths of 11 people. The Chief Minister ordered the arrest of team representatives from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the event management company DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), just hours after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against them for charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
This swift action by the state government comes amid intense criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has called for the resignations of both Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, with the ruling party accusing the opposition of engaging in “dirty politics.” In a press briefing after a cabinet meeting, Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man judicial inquiry led by Justice Michael D’Cunha, a retired judge of the Karnataka High Court, and set a 30-day deadline for the commission to report its findings.
As part of the governor’s response, the cabinet immediately suspended A.K. Girish, the Circle Police Inspector of the Cubbon Park Police Station, along with C. Balakrishna, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Shekhar H. Tekkannavar, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the central division, and Vikash Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Police in charge of the stadium. Seemanth Kumar Singh, an Additional Director General of Police, was transferred to serve as the new commissioner of Bengaluru.
The stampede occurred during the RCB’s first-ever IPL victory celebration on Wednesday evening, drawing a large crowd to the stadium. FIRs were initiated based on a complaint filed by a police inspector at Cubbon Park station, with charges including causing injury and unlawful assembly as outlined in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, leading the magisterial investigation into the incident, indicated that notices would soon be issued to KSCA, RCB, and others to participate in the inquiry. The Karnataka High Court has also taken up the matter suo moto, ordering the state government to submit a status report by June 10 regarding the incident.
On the same day, Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara revealed plans for a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at improving safety for major events and preventing future occurrences of such tragedies. Meanwhile, anguished families of the victims expressed their profound grief and criticized the authorities for inadequate arrangements, with one father, Shivakumar, lamenting the lack of planning compared to political events.
As loved ones gathered in Yelahanka to mourn 15-year-old Divyanshi, who was among the victims, the mortal remains of other deceased individuals were dispatched to their hometowns, including Siddapur in Uttara Kannada and Udumalaipettai in Tamil Nadu. In New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticized the state government, asserting their failure and demanding accountability from Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the tragedy.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar openly expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives, stating that Bengaluru’s reputation has been marred by the incident. He emphasized the government’s responsibility while hesitating to exchange blame with the opposition, highlighting the need for accountability. Incensed by the opposition’s stance, Shivakumar countered allegations that the police had not permitted the celebrations, asserting that he bears accountability to the citizens of Karnataka.
The state government has also confirmed that the investigation into the stampede will be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), with plans for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct an exhaustive and impartial inquiry.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/bengaluru-stampede-cm-suspends-police-commissioner-orders-arrest-of-rcb-ksca-and-event-firm-representatives-13894789.html
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Publish Date: 2025-06-06 00:07:00
