In a dramatic fallout of the deadly stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and left 37 injured, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on June 5 took sweeping action — suspending Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and several senior officers, and ordering immediate arrests of event organizers, including representatives from IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), event agency DNA, and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials.
The stampede, which erupted during a felicitation event organized to honor RCB’s historic IPL win, turned jubilation into chaos near Gate 3 of the stadium. Thousands had gathered —many without valid passes—overwhelming the arrangements in place. The tragedy marks one of the deadliest incidents linked to a sporting celebration in recent memory.
“This was an unprecedented tragedy that could have been averted with basic planning and accountability,” Siddaramaiah said after chairing an emergency Cabinet meeting. “We have suspended the Additional Commissioner of Police, DCP Central Division, ACP, the Cubbon Park SHO, and other officers responsible for security at the stadium. They failed in their duty to safeguard lives.”
The CM further directed the Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest the DNA event managers, KSCA organizers, and the RCB franchise’s event liaison team without delay.
Siddaramaiah also announced that free medical care would be provided to all 37 injured victims and a compensation package for families of the deceased is being finalized. “This is not just a lapse—it’s a betrayal of public trust,” he said, assuring a full judicial inquiry into the incident.
The Opposition has launched a scathing attack, calling the incident a “government-made disaster” and demanding the resignation of the Home Minister. Political blame games aside, public outrage is growing over the complete breakdown of crowd control mechanisms at such a high-profile event.
What began as a long-awaited celebration for RCB fans after an 18-year wait has now plunged the state into mourning — and triggered one of the biggest accountability crackdowns in recent years.
