Based on the recommendations of Justice (Retd) Michael D’Cunha commission report, the Karnataka government has decided to initiate a departmental inquiry against five police officers who were suspended in the wake of the June 4 stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Following a discussion of the one-man judicial commission report in the Karnataka cabinet on Thursday, the government has also decided to book criminal cases against officials of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), DNA Entertainment Networks, and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
Karnataka Law Minister H K Patil said, “The Cabinet has decided to accept Justice D’Cunha’s report, and necessary actions, including departmental inquiries, will be initiated. The Cabinet has approved the stampede report, and action will be taken against RCB, KSCA, and DNA officials.”
Justice D’Cunha report has pinned the blame on the organisers and the police officers for the stampede. The report stated that the police officers were found working at the command of the additional director general and the commissioner of police in collusion with the organisers, even before the activation of arrangements by the organisers.
The commission report also highlighted that the stampede was triggered by the organisers themselves by ‘not regulating’ the entry into the gates and making ‘reckless’ announcements about entry into the stadium.
The report also stated that the five suspended officers – B Dayananda, IPS, Additional Director General and Commissioner of Police; Vikash Kumar Vikash, IPS, Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police, West Bengaluru City; Shekar H Tekkanavar, IPS, DCP Central Division; C Balakrishna, ACP, Cubbon Park Subdivision; and Grish A K, Police Inspector, Cubbon Park police station – failed to stop the event knowing fully well that the event was unauthorised and that the event was organised in haste without proper security arrangements.
The commission also noted that the absence of coordinated messaging and reliable updates prevented effective crowd management and contributed directly to the uncontrolled surge at various gates, most notably at Gate No. 7, 2/2A, 18, and 20, where 11 deaths and 71 injuries were recorded. “No casualty reception point or temporary medical centre was established at or near the venue. The absence of this basic emergency setup meant that critical time was lost in providing life-saving care to victims of the stampede,” the panel pointed out.
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The commission has also recommended the introduction of several measures at the stadium, including adequate entry and exit gates, integration with public transport facilities, and infrastructure for emergency responses, before conducting any public event.