Will punish guilty: Siddaramaiah on Karnataka minister's role in hurried celebration

BENGALURU: Police commissioner B Dayananda was among five senior Bengaluru cops, three of them IPS officers, suspended Thursday as the Karnataka govt scurried to fix responsibility for the death of 11 cricket fans and injuries to 75 others in a stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium ahead of IPL-winning RCB's planned victory parade the previous afternoon.CM Siddaramaiah also ordered the arrest of unnamed "top" officials of RCB, event management firm DNA and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), based on two FIRs alleging criminal mismanagement of the celebratory event. A CID special investigation team will conduct the investigation.One of the FIRs, registered suo motu by a police officer, names RCB as accused No. 1, DNA Entertainment as No. 2, and the KSCA administrative committee as No.

3. It alleged that RCB, KSCA and DNA pressured police for the celebration on Wednesday despite their reservations. "Prima facie, it appears there was negligence and apathy on the part of the organisers, and this led to the tragedy," the CM said. "These stern decisions have been taken after reviewing the available evidence and considering the statements of senior police officers and ministers."Karnataka high court initiated a suo motu PIL and issued notice to the state govt, seeking a "status report" detailing the security arrangements and the circumstances in which the stampede occurred.

Will punish guilty: Sidda on K'taka minister's role in hurried celebration Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice C M Joshi said they intended to "examine preventive measures and future remedies in similar situations".Dayananda, the first police commissioner in Karnataka to be suspended while in office, will face an inquiry for alleged dereliction of duty along with ACP (west) Vikash Kumar Vikash, DCP (central) Shekhar H Tekkannavar, ACP (Cubbon Park subdivision) Balakrishna C and inspector Girish AK of Cubbon Park police station.On allegations about a member of his ministry being responsible for the hurried celebration that caused the crowd crush, the CM said, "Let the inquiry report be submitted. Action will be initiated against those found guilty." Retired high court judge John Michael D'Cunha will conduct the inquiry and submit a report in 30 days.Of the two FIRs in the case, one was registered suo motu by an officer of Cubbon Park police station.

The other is based on a complaint filed by a person injured in the stampede. Inspector Girish AK's FIR mentions that KSCA chief executive officer Shubendu Ghosh approached Girish around 6pm Tuesday, requesting security arrangements for "likely victory celebrations of RCB" the next evening.The inspector turned down the request, explaining that if RCB won, fans would celebrate all night and police would need to focus on that.

But KSCA, DNA and RCB allegedly "pressured" police by saying a victory celebration would be held.Since early Wednesday, RCB's official X account invited people to take part in the victory parade without waiting for police permission, the FIR says. A security plan was prepared and sent to senior officials around 9am. The state govt, too, organised a felicitation for RCB at Vidhana Soudha, necessitating additional security arrangements.