Tragic Crowd Surge at RCB Celebration Leads to Arrests and Government Action

Police Action Following RCB Celebration Incident

In the aftermath of a tragic crowd surge during the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) celebration in Bengaluru, police detained Nikhil Sosale from RCB management and Sunil Mathew from the event management firm DNA at Kempegowda International Airport on Friday. Authorities have also taken two additional individuals into custody. Following directives from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a case was filed against RCB, DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on Thursday, leading to the arrests of responsible representatives. Currently, officials from KSCA are reportedly on the run.

On the same day, the Karnataka High Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident, instructing the state government to submit a status report by June 10. After a cabinet meeting, Siddaramaiah announced the formation of a one-member judicial commission led by retired High Court Judge Michael Kunnha to investigate the failures in planning, coordination, and crowd control. The commission has been given 30 days to present its findings.

Suspension of Police Officials

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the suspension of Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand and several senior police officials on Thursday due to the crowd surge incident outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, which resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals. He also directed the arrest of representatives from RCB, DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and KSCA, shortly after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against them, including charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Government Under Fire

The state government's actions come amid intense criticism from the opposition BJP, which has demanded the resignations of Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, accusing the government of engaging in dirty politics. Siddaramaiah stated, "A cabinet meeting was held today, and we discussed the tragedy in detail. The cabinet decided to assign the investigation of this incident to a one-member judicial commission headed by retired Justice Michael Kunnha, and we have requested the commission to submit a report within 30 days." He added that the cabinet also decided to suspend several police officials, including the circle police inspector and the assistant police commissioner.

After the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure the immediate arrest of representatives from RCB, DNA, and KSCA.

Arrests Ordered

According to a notification, senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police for Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force, Seemant Kumar Singh, has been transferred and appointed as the Bengaluru Police Commissioner until further notice. The crowd surge occurred on Wednesday evening outside the stadium, where a large number of fans had gathered to celebrate RCB's victory in the IPL. The police reported that the FIRs were filed following a complaint from a police inspector at the Cubbon Park police station. On Thursday, Bengaluru's Deputy Commissioner G. Jagdish, who is leading the magistrate's inquiry into the incident, stated that notices would be issued to KSCA, RCB, and others to participate in the investigation, while the Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to file a status report on this tragic incident by June 10.

State Government's Response

Earlier in the day, Karnataka's Home Minister Parameshwara announced that the government would develop a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for large events, meetings, and ceremonies to prevent any unpleasant incidents. Meanwhile, the families of the victims from the tragic event are still grieving and have held officials accountable for the chaos. The father of 15-year-old Divyanshi expressed his frustration, questioning why proper arrangements were not made. He remarked, "Go to Mysore Palace Road - they make arrangements for everything for political events. They should have planned appropriately for this celebration." Relatives gathered at the home of a grieving family in Yelahanka, Bengaluru, as the teenager's body was taken for cremation, creating a heart-wrenching scene. Some of the deceased from outside Bengaluru have been sent back to their hometowns, including Siddapur in Uttara Kannada and Uthamapalayam in Tamil Nadu.

In a strong attack on the state government, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra stated in New Delhi that this is clearly a failure of the state government, which must acknowledge its shortcomings.

What Happened During the RCB Parade

Wednesday was meant to be a day of celebration for cricket fans in Karnataka, but it descended into chaos when the RCB victory parade was abruptly canceled at the last minute, leading to confusion, overcrowding, and a stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The day began with RCB management announcing a celebratory parade on an open-top bus from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium. Free passes for the post-parade event inside the stadium were to be distributed online. However, at 11:56 AM, Bengaluru traffic police announced the parade's cancellation. Despite the cancellation, a large crowd had already gathered along the designated route by the time the RCB team landed at HAL Airport at 1:30 PM. The players then returned to their hotel before heading to Vidhana Soudha for a brief public ceremony where Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was to honor them.