Major action taken in Bengaluru stampede case; Police Commissioner and many officers suspended
In the aftermath of a tragic stampede outside the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the Karnataka government has taken stern action by suspending several senior police officials, including the city's Police Commissioner. This move comes as public outrage grows over the failure to manage the crowd during a high-profile public event.
The incident occurred on Wednesday during a grand victory celebration organized for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team following their recent Indian Premier League (IPL) championship win. A massive crowd had gathered outside the stadium to witness the felicitation ceremony of their cricketing heroes.
However, the celebratory atmosphere turned into chaos as a stampede broke out amid the overwhelming crowd presence. Eleven people lost their lives in the tragedy, and several others sustained injuries. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the dense crowd and panic severely hindered rescue efforts.
In response to the disaster, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the suspension of the Bengaluru Police Commissioner along with several other high-ranking officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and Circle Police Inspector (CPI).
“This level of administrative failure is unacceptable. The safety of our citizens is non-negotiable,” said the Chief Minister during a press briefing. He also assured that a high-level inquiry is underway and that those found guilty of negligence will be held accountable.
The stampede has drawn sharp criticism from various political leaders, citizens, and civil society groups, all of whom are demanding better crowd control measures and accountability from authorities during major public events.