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In a letter to the department of personnel and administrative reforms, DCP MN Karibasvanna warned of security concerns and personnel shortage for the Vidhana Soudha event
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara with senior police officials during an inspection after the stampede near the Chinnaswamy stadium that claimed 11 lives, in Bengaluru. (Image: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak)
The Karnataka government ignored an explicit warning from the police about the risks of holding a felicitation ceremony for IPL-winning team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, at the Vidhana Soudha, and still went ahead with it on June 4. Later, in the evening, lakhs of cricket fans gathered outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the victory celebrations, leading to a stampede that claimed 11 lives.
A massive crowd gathered outside the Vidhana Soudha for the felicitation event, which was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar. In a letter dated June 4, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) MN Karibasvanna warned of security concerns and flagged these to the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR).
Karibasvanna related his primary concern about the event, which was to take place on the grand steps of the state legislative assembly building, was an acute shortage of officers and personnel. He told DPAR head G satyavathi that this will severely hamper security arrangements (bandobast) for such a large-scale event.
“The RCB cricket team has a fan following across the country. Organising the event in a hurry on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha when lakhs of cricket fans will arrive at Vidhana Soudha will lead to problems in security arrangements since there is a shortage of officers/personnel in Vidhana Soudha security division,” the letter said.
The letter highlighted the potential for chaos given the team’s immense popularity and the large gathering of fans expected. It further suggested that the employees at Vidhana Soudha should get a half-day leave and flagged a lack of CCTV cameras to monitor the crowd.
The Karnataka government has not yet reacted to the details revealed by the letter.
WHAT IS THE KARNATAKA GOVT’S ACTION SO FAR?
Apart from an FIR against the RCB franchise, DNA Entertainment Pvt Ltd, an event management company, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), the Karnataka police suspended multiple IPS officers, including Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayananda.
Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash, DCP (Central) Shekhar HT, Assistant Commissioner of Police Balakrishna and Cubbon Park police inspector Girish AK were also suspended with immediate effect.
Four individuals, including senior RCB official Nikhil Sosale and three event managers, were arrested in a joint operation by the police and the Central Crime Branch (CCB) at Kempegowda International Airport in the early hours of June 6.
On Saturday (June 7), top senior officials of the KSCA – secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam – tendered their resignations taking “moral responsibility” for the stampede.
The one-man inquiry commission formed by the Karnataka government under retired High Court judge John Michael Cunha, has been asked to identify the persons responsible for the omissions or deficiencies that led to this incident. As per the terms of reference to the commission from the government, it has also suggested precautionary measures that can be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future, among others.
A day after the stampede incident, the chief minister had announced that a one-man panel will be formed under Cunha to look into the procedural lapses in the issue, and the commission has been asked to give the report in 30 days.
The Siddaramaiah-led government has ordered an increase in the compensation announced for the families of those who died in the stampede to Rs 25 lakh each. Earlier, the government had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each.
WHAT IS THE OPPOSITION SAYING?
Senior BJP leaders mounted an attack on Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, alleging that the duo wanted to take “selfies” and “celebrate” the victory with RCB players.
“After this big tragedy in Karnataka, more than 30 common citizens were injured, and 11 people lost their lives. The chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and the deputy chief minister, DK Shivakumar, are two culprits… Because they wanted to take selfies and wanted to celebrate the victory with the RCB players, the whole attention of the police and the officers was on them. They were busy giving protection to the chief minister and deputy chief minister, whereas the crowd gathered at the Stadium was left unattended…Siddaramaiah should resign,” Karnataka deputy leader of opposition and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad said.
Senior BJP leader CT Ravi also called to fix the responsibility. “11 people died – speaking the truth about it, is that politics…who is responsible? Did we call everyone to Vidhana Soudha and felicitate them? Does RCB represent the state or Kannadigas? The CM and deputy CM are responsible. Your political credit war caused this…” he said.
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India’s space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi…Read More
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India’s space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi… Read More
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