Stampede case: K'taka govt held RCB event despite police's 'warning' letter
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Bengaluru: Despite a clear warning from the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Vidhana Soudha Division, against holding the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) felicitation event due to security and overcrowding concerns, the Karnataka government went ahead with the celebration, which later resulted in a deadly stampede claiming 11 lives.
The DCP’s letter, dated June 4, was addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR). In his detailed three-page response to requests from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and the DPAR Under Secretary about organising the event at the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha, DCP M.N. Karibasavana Gowda cautioned that the massive turnout expected from RCB’s vast fan base could pose serious security challenges.
The letter warned that lakhs of fans were likely to attend, making it difficult to ensure adequate security due to a shortage of police staff and officers. It also highlighted that the Vidhana Soudha building is a vital heritage installation without sufficient CCTV coverage at the time, increasing the risk of security breaches. The DCP emphasized the importance of CCTV cameras and flagged the possibility of drone camera use, recommending the installation of an anti-drone system to protect the building.
Further, the letter underscored the logistical challenges involved in deploying police personnel from outside units and coordinating with law and order and traffic divisions, all under a very tight timeline. Despite these concerns, the DCP made clear that the police department would act according to government directions.
Following the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the suspension of five senior police officers, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner and the DCP (Central Division), for their alleged negligence related to the stampede.
An official order noted that the CEO of RCB had informed the Bengaluru Police Commissioner on June 3 about plans for a victory parade and celebrations on June 4. However, the Police Commissioner’s office failed to issue a written denial due to insufficient time to prepare for such a large event. Despite this, RCB and the Cricket Association publicised the event on social media and invited fans to the Chinnaswamy Stadium without the usual system of tickets or passes.
The order further criticised the police for not organising the event systematically at the stadium or informing the public adequately to take necessary safety precautions. Additional police forces were not provided for crowd management, and the situation was not escalated to senior authorities for guidance. This lack of coordination and preparation resulted in the tragic stampede, causing loss of life and significant embarrassment to the government.
The conduct of the involved IPS officers was described as a gross violation of All India Services (Conduct) Rules, while the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Police Inspector were found in violation of Karnataka State Police (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules, 1965.
With IANS inputs
