RCB stampede: Who is Seemant Kumar Singh, new Bengaluru police commissioner replacing Dayananda?

Seemant Kumar Singh has served as deputy police commissioner in Bengaluru city earlier. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah ordered suspension of former commissioner B. Dayananda following the stampede outside Chinnaswamy stadium during RCB's victory celebrations on Wednesday

Seemant Kumar Singh and Dayananda New Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh with DCM D.K. Shivakumar (right) former commissioner B. Dayananda

Senior IPS officer and ADGP Seemant Kumar Singh is the new Bengaluru police commissioner. Singh replaces B. Dayananda, who was suspended along with four other police officers citing "dereliction of duty", following the stampede that claimed 11 lives during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru victory celebrations outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday.

A 1996-batch IPS officer, who was serving as the Additional Director-General of Police (Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force), Singh has been appointed the 39th commissioner of Bengaluru City police. "I was asked to take charge immediately. I know the circumstances now are different. But I would say the Bengaluru City police and our officers have a history of having done good work. I too have worked in this office previously as an additional commissioner and DCP. We are capable of providing good policing in the city. All the previous police commissioners have done good work and made a name and I will continue their good work,” said Singh who took charge on Friday morning. 

Singh has served in various capacities including commissioner of Mangaluru City (2010–2012), SP of Dakshina Kannada (2000–2004) and Ballari during the height of the illegal mining crisis in 2010, ADGP of now-dissolved Anti-Corruption Bureau, and IGP and commander, anti-Naxal Force, Udupi. He was awarded the president’s medal for distinguished service in 2014.

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