Bengaluru stampede: CM suspends Police Commissioner, orders arrest of RCB representative

Bengaluru, June 6: In a significant development in the deadly stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed the lives of 11 people, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suspended Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, along with several senior police officials.

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He also directed the arrest of representatives from the RCB team, the event management company DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), just hours after an FIR was filed against them. The charges include culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The state government's action came as the BJP launched a strong attack, demanding the resignations of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar. In response, Shivakumar accused the BJP of engaging in "dirty politics."

After a cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister told reporters that a one-man judicial inquiry would be conducted into the tragic incident. The inquiry will be led by Justice Michael D'Cunha, a retired High Court judge from Karnataka. 

"We have asked the commission to submit the report within 30 days," Siddaramaiah said.

He also mentioned, "The cabinet has decided to immediately suspend several officials, including the Circle Police Inspector of Cubbon Park Police Station, A K Girish, Assistant Commissioner of Police C Bala Krishna, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the central division Shekhar H Tekkannavar, Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash, who is in charge of the stadium, and Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda."

The Chief Minister said he had told the DGP and IGP of the state to immediately arrest the representatives of RCB, DNA event managers, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).

Notably, the stampede happened on Wednesday evening outside the stadium, where a huge crowd had gathered to celebrate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team's first-ever IPL victory. 

The FIRs were filed after a complaint was made by a police inspector at Cubbon Park station, according to the police.