Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has suspended Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and four other senior officers following a deadly stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and injured 47. The incident occurred during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations, drawing widespread criticism over crowd mismanagement and prompting swift governmental action.
The suspended officials include Additional Commissioner Vikash Kumar Vikash, Deputy Commissioner of Police Shekhar H Tekkannavar, Assistant Commissioner of Police C Balakrishna, and Cubbon Park Police Inspector A K Girish. The Chief Minister cited “substantial dereliction of duty” as the reason for their immediate suspension.
In response to the tragedy, Siddaramaiah has ordered the arrest of executives from RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association , and DNA Entertainment Networks. These entities are accused of proceeding with the event without adequate safety measures and necessary permissions, contributing to the chaos that ensued.
A judicial inquiry led by retired High Court Judge John Michael D’Cunha has been commissioned to investigate procedural lapses. Additionally, the Crime Investigation Department has been tasked with probing the roles of the aforementioned organizations in the incident.
The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter, directing the state government to submit a status report by June 10. The court’s involvement underscores the severity of the situation and the demand for accountability.
Seemanth Kumar Singh has been appointed as the new Bengaluru Police Commissioner, replacing B Dayananda. Singh’s appointment is part of a broader effort to restore public confidence in the city’s law enforcement following the tragedy.
The stampede occurred when a massive crowd gathered outside the stadium to celebrate RCB’s maiden IPL title. The stadium, with a seating capacity of approximately 35,000, was overwhelmed by an estimated 2.5 lakh attendees. The situation escalated when gates were opened, leading to a surge that resulted in fatalities and injuries.
An FIR filed at Cubbon Park Police Station has charged RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment Networks under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, unlawful assembly, and endangering life or personal safety of others. The FIR alleges that the organizers proceeded with the event despite being denied permission and failed to implement adequate crowd control measures.
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