The Karnataka government has blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the stampede that killed 11 people outside Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, noting that the franchise unilaterally announced the victory celebrations after its win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final the previous day.
The government, in its June 12 status report to the Karnataka High Court, cited RCB’s social media posts on the celebrations, including a video clip featuring star player Virat Kohli. The report was made public following a direction by the high court on July 8. The state government had urged the court to keep the report in a sealed cover, but the court stated that there were no legal grounds for such confidentiality.
In the report, accessed by The Indian Express, the government outlined the events of the day, along with answers to questions previously posed by the high court, with supporting documentation.
The status report said that RCB, “unilaterally and without consultation/permission” from the Bangalore city police, posted a photo at 7.01 am on its official handle on social media informing that there will be free entry for people at the victory celebration. It also said that RCB invited the public to participate in a victory parade, “which would commence at Vidhana Soudha and conclude at Chinnaswamy Stadium”.
The report also said that RCB shared a video clip featuring Virat Kohli in which he stated that “the team intended to celebrate this victory with the people of Bengaluru city”.
It also stated that the RCB, at 3.14 pm on the day of the stampede, posted online regarding limited entry free passes. Various social media posts, starting from the morning of June 4, were viewed by lakhs of users, resulting in a crowd of at least over three lakh, the report said, noting that people gathered on the way from the airport to the team’s hotel, the Taj West End.
The report attributed the situation demanding police deployment in addition to those already around the stadium to “a lack of proper planning by the organisers and the failure to provide the necessary information in advance to the concerned authorities”.
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At the outset, the report stated that an intimation letter was submitted by a staffer of the event management company DNA Networks Private Limited on June 3 on behalf of the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Karnataka State Cricket Association that the management of RCB/DNA planned to conduct victory parades culminating in a victory celebration at the stadium. The police at the Cubbon Park station granted no permission as no applications with the necessary information were submitted, it said.
Citing mismanagement by the organisers, the report stated that the crowd began to break in via Gates 1, 2 and 21 of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. By 3.30, stampedes broke out at gates 2, 2a, A, 6, 7, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 21, the report said.
The report added that seven police personnel, including a DCP-level officer, were also injured. It also stated that the victory celebration at the stadium commenced at 5.30 pm with a reduced duration, to avoid the risk of mob violence if the event was immediately cancelled.
The report also provided details of the FIRs registered, suspensions of police officers, as well as financial and other aid provided to victims, before progressing to the questions raised by the high court.
Response to high court inquries
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With regard to court queries on permission, the report reiterated that the RCB management, in association with its event management partner, DNA, and the KSCA, “unilaterally decided to hold the victory celebration without prior consultation with the police and without obtaining the necessary permissions or licence for such celebrations”.
Regarding the query on traffic regulation, the report highlighted the deployment of 654 traffic personnel, as well as the regulation of the cricket team’s travel route, including diversion points, barricades, and other measures. The report also stated that traffic advisories and maps were posted online and communicated via radio.
The report outlined the security measures and post-incident response for the event, which included two ambulances, a fire tender, and a command vehicle equipped with a water jet. The government stated that it was the responsibility of the organisers to arrange medical and other necessary facilities, as outlined in the terms and conditions printed on the tickets for the victory event.
The report added that the treatment provided at the venue and the time taken to reach the hospital were still being investigated, while several people were saved by being transported to the hospital in police vehicles.
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The government responded to the court’s query on crowd assessment, stating that evaluations were based on past experiences, including the RCB match on May 3, which attracted 40,000 spectators, along with other previous events.
It stated that the immediate announcement of the event post the victory, alongside social media posts, resulted in a lack of reasonable time for the police to make practical estimates. Regarding the existence of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for crowd management, the report stated that a 2009 police notification was issued on controlling assemblies, along with a 2014 advisory by the National Disaster Management Authority. It added that the state is formulating a fresh SOP for all stakeholders in light of the event of June 4.
RCB won the IPL final against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on June 3. The next afternoon, the team arrived at HAL Airport in Bengaluru on a special flight. As planned, a felicitation programme took place at Vidhana Soudha, with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in attendance. The stampede, which left several injured apart from those who died, occurred outside Chinnaswamy Stadium before the team’s victory celebrations at its home venue later in the day.