Support pours in for suspended Bengaluru top cop after suspension over stampede

The Karnataka government's suspension of Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda over the June 4 stampede that claimed 11 lives has unleashed an outpouring of support – with former officers, political parties, citizens, and online communities rallying behind him en masse.

Widespread support has been building for him on social media under the hashtag #IStandWithBDayanand. Citizens, former police officers and political parties alike have raised questions over the Karnataka government’s decision, calling it hasty and unfair.

Dayananda, who till June 5, served as Commissioner of Police for Bengaluru City, was suspended a day after 11 people died and several others were injured in a deadly stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where an event to felicitate Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team, had drawn enormous crowds.

Sources say the Commissioner had reportedly advised the government to schedule the event on a Sunday to ease logistical pressure, a suggestion that was overruled.

Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Megharikh criticised the suspension, stating, “It’s an unfortunate incident of suspending a commissioner without preliminary enquiry and fact findings. Police were only a petty part of this event. Suspension of the commissioner is not the right way to do it. Why did they not do it in the beginning? Bigger stakeholders are there. We are upset as IPS and commissioners fraternity. Mistakes are bound to happen but reactions can’t be this way.”

Retired IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, in a strong statement, accused the Chief Minister of being in “panic mode” and blamed the Deputy Chief Minister for the situation. “The suspension of Bengaluru City Police Commissioner is the darkest day in the history of Karnataka Police,” he wrote. “Everyone in Karnataka knows that it is the uncontrollable Deputy Chief Minister who orchestrated the death march and is the main culprit.”

Rao added, “No Chief Minister has become as helpless, cowardly, nervous and panicky. The government has blood on its hands and now has lost its mind too. The government is now in disaster.”

An online petition has also been launched demanding that the government revoke its decision.

Social media platforms have seen a flurry of posts defending Dayanand’s integrity and professional conduct. Many described him as a role model in public service, lauding his efficiency and discipline during his tenure.

Bengaluru police personnel, disheartened by the decision, are reportedly considering wearing black bands on their sleeves as a mark of protest. According to sources, discussions are ongoing among officers on how to respond, with some reportedly fearful of backlash from the government.

Political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular), also weighed in. The BJP’s Karnataka unit wrote on X, “For the first time in the history of Karnataka, cold-blooded murderers are punishing top police officers.” The JD(S) directly targeted Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, alleging he was responsible for the stampede and demanding his resignation. Several trending hashtags, including #ArrestDCM, #StepdownDCM, and #ResignDCM, are now dominating political discourse online.

The government is yet to issue a detailed response addressing the criticism over the suspension.