RCB celebrations stampede Karnataka CM orders suspension of Bengaluru police commissioner

Bengaluru, Jun 5 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday ordered the suspension of Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda and several senior police officials in connection with the stampede in front of Chinnaswamy cricket stadium here, which left 11 people dead.

He has also ordered the arrest of representatives of RCB, DNA entertainment private limited and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), while handing over the probe to the one-man judicial commission headed by retired High Court judge of Karnataka Justice Michael D Cunha.

The stampede occurred on Wednesday evening in front of the stadium, where a large number of people gathered to participate in the RCB team's IPL victory celebrations. Eleven people have died and 56 have been injured in the incident.

The suspension follows intense criticism of the government by the opposition and various sections, demanding to know who is responsible for the stampede.

"Today the cabinet met and discussed yesterday's tragedy in detail. The cabinet in its wisdom has taken a decision to entrust (the probe) into the incident to the one-man judicial commission headed by retired High Court judge of Karnataka Justice Michael Cunha and we have told the commission to give the report in 30 days," Siddaramaiah said.

Addressing reporters here after the cabinet meeting, the CM said he instructed the DGP and IGP of the state to immediately arrest the representatives of RCB, DNA event managers and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in connection with the stampede incident, as prima facie there is "irresponsibility" and "carelessness" on their part and FIR has also been registered.

"The cabinet has also taken a decision to immediately suspend the Police Inspector of the Cubbon Park Police station and Assistant Commissioner of Police of that particular area, Deputy Commissioner of Police of central zone, Additional Commissioner of Police -- who is incharge of the stadium, and Commissioner of Police Bengaluru city."

The CM said never has such a stampede incident occurred in Karnataka since he became an MLA.

"This incident has pained us all, it shouldn't have happened. I express condolences for the departed and the government is with their families," he said.

According the government order, IPS officers placed under suspension with immediate effect on examination of the way events have unfolded leading to the tragedy prima facie, and on the finding that there has been on the face of it substantial dereliction of duty are -- B Dayananda, IPS, Additional Director General & Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City; Vikash Kumar Vikash, Inspector General & Additional Commissioner of Police, West, Bengaluru City; and Shekar H Tekkannavar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Division, Bengaluru City.

Also suspended are C Balakrishna Asst Commissioner of Police, and A K Girish, Police Inspector, Cubbon Park Police Station.

Pointing out that the FIR has been filed in connection with the incident the CM said, the investigation has been entrusted to the CID.

Admitting that there was an intelligence lapse, he said no decision has been made yet on taking action in this regard. "We have discussed it."

Asked who would be arrested from RCB, DNA event management firm and KSCA, Siddaramaiah said, "the police will do it and it will be known after the arrest."

To a question whether any other involvement has been found, he said, "the one man inquiry commission will inquire and submit a report and based on that further action will be taken and no one will be spared. As prima facie certain lapses were found, instructions have been given for arrests, and also suspension of officials."

Regarding the health condition of those injured, the CM said, almost all of them have been discharged other than eight people and none of them are in a serious condition. All their expenses including food, transportation and treatment will be borne by the government."

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)