Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, facing intense criticism from opposition parties and the public over the tragic stampede at the felicitation ceremony for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), announced significant administrative action on Thursday. The stampede, which occurred during the event held at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulted in the loss of 11 lives and left 47 others injured.

In a press briefing, the Chief Minister revealed that Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and his deputy have been suspended over the mishap. Seemanth Kumar Singh has now been appointed as the new city police chief. Siddaramaiah also stated that further action will follow against the RCB franchise, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the event management company DNA Entertainment.

In a latest development, the Karnataka government has sacked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's political secretary K Govindaraj and transferred the head of the intelligence dep

Violation of Protocol and Ignored Warnings

Sources indicate that the RCB had been advised by the police to delay the felicitation event by a few days to ensure adequate preparation. However, the team, in collaboration with KSCA and DNA Entertainment, chose to go ahead with the plan, disregarding safety and security protocols.

According to the state government, RCB had informed the Police Commissioner’s office on June 3 about their intention to hold the victory parade and celebrations on June 4. Despite recognizing the short notice and potential safety risks, the Commissioner’s office did not issue a formal denial or raise objections in writing. Instead, the RCB proceeded with public announcements and began inviting fans to the stadium via social media, bypassing the usual ticketing or pass-based entry system.

The Chief Minister criticized the lack of foresight and the failure of crowd management.

"Despite anticipating a huge turnout of fans, neither adequate public advisories were issued nor was additional police force deployed to manage the crowd," the government stated.

The Stampede: What Went Wrong

The tragic stampede unfolded as enthusiastic fans thronged the Chinnaswamy Stadium to catch a glimpse of their team, which had clinched its maiden IPL title after an 18-year wait. The event had an emotional appeal, drawing massive crowds estimated to be in the range of 8 lakh people.

The chaos began as people rushed towards the stadium gates, leading to bottlenecks and overcrowding. With only minimal police presence at the venue, gates were jammed, barricades were knocked down, and several people were trampled in the resulting panic. Security arrangements had been heavily concentrated at the Vidhana Soudha, where the Chief Minister and other top officials were present during the parade.

While the government initially described the felicitation as a last-minute plan, social media posts by RCB told a different story. The team had posted on X on June 4, announcing a “Victory Parade” from the Vidhana Soudha to the stadium starting at 5 PM, followed by the felicitation. The post also provided a link for free passes and urged fans to follow police guidelines — a move that may have unintentionally spurred the massive, unmanaged turnout.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings Underway

The state government has initiated an official inquiry, handing over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Additionally, an earlier probe announced by the Chief Minister will be led by retired High Court judge Justice Michael Cunha.

A criminal case has been registered against RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment. Charges include negligence and dereliction of duty leading to the deadly stampede.

Furthermore, the Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident. The court has requested a detailed status report from the state government, outlining the causes of the tragedy and identifying any lapses. It has also instructed the government to develop and submit a comprehensive plan to prevent such a disaster from recurring in the future.

A Wake-Up Call for Event Management and Public Safety

This incident has raised serious concerns about the preparedness of civic authorities and event organizers when managing large public gatherings. With high emotions, massive crowds, and inadequate planning, a celebration meant to unite and uplift turned into a devastating tragedy.

The state now faces the dual challenge of delivering justice to the victims and rebuilding public trust by implementing strong protocols to avoid a repeat of such an incident.

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