RCB stampede: Suspended IPS officers given postings

Hours after Director-General of Prisons and Correctional Services Malini Krishnamurthy superannuated on Thursday, the Karnataka government appointed B. Dayananda, formerly Bengaluru City Commissioner, to head the Prisons Department with a downgraded post.

Mr. Dayananda, who is now Additional Director-General of Prisons and Correctional services, was among five police officers suspended by the State government following a stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed 11 people on June 4. However, the suspension of four of the five officers was revoked earlier this week.

The government on Thursday also revoked the suspension of Vikash Kumar Vikash, the lone officer whose suspension was not revoked earlier, and posted him as Inspector-General of Police, Internal security Division.

The government also posted Shekhar H.T. as Superintendent of Police, Intelligence, Bengaluru, to the vacant post.

However, Cubbon Park Sub Division Assistant Commissioner of Police C. Balakrishna and Inspector A.K. Girish, who were also reinstated, are yet to get posting.

Taking serious note and lapses on part of the city police during stampede, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had ordered suspension of Mr. Dayananda and his team, who were in-charge of the stadium security. The government also ordered the CID to probe the incident in detail, which is pending.

Mr. Vikash challenged his suspension before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which revoked the order. The government has challenged the CAT order in the High Court, which is pending.

The government ordered two probes led by Bengaluru Urban DC G. Jagadeesha and Justice John Michael D’Cunha, based on which the Cabinet on July 24 decided to initiate legal action against IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event management company DNA Network.