Karnataka Government Blames Police for IPL Stampede Incident

Karnataka Government's Stance on IPL Stampede

During a recent court session, Karnataka government representatives claimed that police officials acted as mere 'servants' of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the stampede incident outside Chinnaswamy Stadium. This statement was made in connection with the tragic event that occurred on June 4, where fans gathered to celebrate RCB's IPL victory, resulting in eleven fatalities and over fifty injuries.

The state's legal counsel informed the court that police began organizing the victory celebrations without confirming the necessary permissions for the event. They asserted that the cricket team had submitted a request for the celebration prior to the final match.

The emotional significance of RCB's potential first league victory was emphasized, with the government arguing that police failed to adequately prepare or inform the public about the event.

When questioned about who was responsible for the arrangements within the stadium, the state's counsel pointed to the state police officials.

The government also justified the suspension of Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar, accusing him of neglecting his responsibilities and causing public embarrassment. They argued that his suspension was necessary to determine accountability for the incident.

The case is set to continue on Friday. Following the incident, the state suspended Vikash and four other officers for dereliction of duty. Vikash contested his suspension, which was deemed unjustified by the Central Administrative Tribunal, leading to a directive for his reinstatement. The state subsequently appealed to the High Court.

Status Report Submitted to the High Court

The Karnataka government has presented a status report to the High Court, indicating that the event organizers did not formally request police permission as required by law, but merely notified the police of a potential gathering.

The report highlighted significant omissions, including the absence of crucial details such as participant numbers, assembly points, timing, and contact information for event organizers, as well as plans for managing traffic and crowd control.

On July 14, the court rejected the government's request to keep the report confidential, emphasizing transparency in the proceedings.