In the aftermath of a tragic stampede that claimed 11 lives during the IPL victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the Karnataka government has launched a comprehensive investigation and suspended key city police officials. The incident, which occurred near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, has triggered intense scrutiny of crowd management and event planning.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the formation of a one-man judicial commission headed by retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice Michael D’Cunha. This commission has been tasked with investigating the lapses in planning, coordination, and crowd control that led to the incident. The report is expected to be submitted within a month.
The decision to set up the commission was taken after an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday evening, where ministers and top officials reviewed the incident in detail.
Key Police Officials Suspended
In a significant administrative move, the state government suspended Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda along with several other officers directly responsible for managing security at the event. Those suspended include:
- Additional Police Commissioner (Security)
- Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central)
- Assistant Commissioner of Police (jurisdictional area)
- Station House Officer and Sub-Inspector of Cubbon Park Police Station
This disciplinary action comes amid growing public outrage and calls for accountability in light of the tragic deaths.
An FIR was registered earlier in the day, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that the case has been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for a thorough probe. A parallel magisterial investigation has also been initiated.
The Chief Minister stressed the gravity of the situation, describing it as one of the worst tragedies he has witnessed since becoming an MLA. "It is a matter of deep pain for the government and the people of Karnataka. We owe the victims and their families a full and transparent investigation," he said.
Event Organisers Face Legal Action
Alongside police officials, organisers of the event are also under scrutiny. The Chief Minister stated that representatives from Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment (the event management agency) will be arrested based on preliminary findings suggesting negligence in crowd management and safety measures.
Authorities believe that the scale of the crowd far exceeded the arrangements made, leading to chaos and ultimately the deadly stampede. Eyewitness accounts and videos from the scene show tightly packed crowds struggling to navigate through poorly controlled entry points.
The stampede occurred on Wednesday during a grand celebration organised to felicitate the RCB team, which recently clinched its first-ever IPL title. Thousands had gathered outside Vidhana Soudha and the stadium premises to catch a glimpse of the players and partake in the victory rally.
What began as a joyous event quickly descended into panic as crowd numbers surged beyond the capacity of the venue and available security infrastructure. The lack of adequate barricades, unclear entry protocols, and insufficient personnel have been cited as contributing factors to the chaos.
The incident has sparked widespread mourning and criticism across political lines, with many questioning the preparedness of both civic and police authorities. Human rights groups and citizens' forums have also called for stringent action against those responsible.
While the state government has assured swift action and compensation for the victims' families, opposition parties are demanding accountability at the highest levels.
Also Read: RCB की पहली IPL जीत की खुशियां बनीं मातम का कारण, बेंगलुरु में भगदड़ में 11 की मौत
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