Bengaluru Stampede: CM Siddaramaiah Suspends Top Police Officials, Orders Judicial, CID Probes

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. (Photo : ANI)

Bengaluru Stampede: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the suspension of the top police official of the state in connection with the stampede incident near the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on June 4, which resulted in the death of at least 11 people. 

The suspended officials include Bengaluru Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, Cubbon Park Police Station Police Inspector, Station House Master, Station House Officer, ACP, Central Division DCP and Cricket Stadium in-charge.

“It has been decided to immediately suspend the Cubbon Park Police Station Police Inspector (Girish A.K.), along with the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of that zone (Balakrishna), the Central Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (H.T. Shekar), the Additional Commissioner of Police who was in charge of stadium security, and the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner (B. Dayananda),” Siddaramaiah stated.

Eleven people were killed and 47 people were injured in a stampede during the victory celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Additionally, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has appointed a one-man commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the stampede incident. Justice John Michael D’Cunha, who is leading this one-man commission, has been instructed to complete the investigation and submit the report within 30 days. Along with the judicial inquiry, a CID investigation has also been ordered.

"We have appointed a one-man commission of inquiry headed by former High Court Judge Michael Khunha to investigate the incident thoroughly," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in a Statement. 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also ordered the arrest of representatives of RCB, DNA Entertainment Networks and Karnataka State Cricket Association found responsible for the incident.

"We have also instructed the authorities to take strict action. Orders have been given to arrest representatives of RCB, DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association, who are found responsible," the statement read. 

Earlier today, an FIR was filed against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, event manager,  KSCA Administrative Committee and others over the Bengaluru stampede. FIR stated criminal negligence in the incident.

“An FIR has been filed against RCB, DNA (event manager), Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Administrative Committee and others at Cubbon Park Police Station,” ANI quoted  Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Bengaluru, Shekar H Tekkannanavar as saying. 

Following the incident, Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of 11 victims.

"The unfortunate incident in Bengaluru yesterday has caused a lot of anguish and pain to the RCB family. As a mark of respect and a gesture of solidarity, RCB has announced a financial support of INR 10 lakh to each of the eleven families of the deceased. In addition, a fund called RCB Cares is also being created to support fans injured in this tragic incident. Our fans will always remain at the heart of everything that we do. We remain united in grief," Royal Challengers Bengaluru said in a post on X. 

BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan blamed the state government for the incident.

"I strongly condemn the Bengaluru incident in which 11 lives were lost. The Karnataka government should have taken concrete steps. The state government should be very careful in handling the crowd. The Karnataka government was blaming the UP government for Kumbh, but look what has happened there," ANI quoted Tamilisai as saying. 

 Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday demanded Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation over the incident.