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Bengaluru Stampede: Judicial Report Blames RCB, Police, KSCA, Event Organisers For Loss Of Lives
Follow UsThe incident took place on June 4, a day after RCB won their maiden IPL title
In what was supposed to be a day of celebration, it quickly turned nightmare as 11 people lost their lives and over 50 were injured during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade on June 4 in Bengaluru, following their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) triumph a day earlier.
The one-man inquiry commission led by retired Justice John Michael D’Cunha concluded that all the stake holders - RCB, the police, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and event organisers DNA are to be blamed for the loss of lives as they went ahead with the event despite knowing very well that it would be impossible to manage a massive crowd.
The report says it was "gross negligence and dereliction of duty" of everyone involved.
The D’Cunha Commission over the course of the last month or so, have held multiple hearings, has collected statements from the eye witnesses, police officers, KSCA officials, and government representatives. The panel concluded that the security arrangements were not adequete enough.
Only 79 policemen were stationed inside the stadiums and none of them were kept outside. Moreover, there were also no ambulances on site and the police failed to respond to the situation promptly.
In the aftermath of the stampede, the Bengaluru police commissioner was removed from his post, and RCB official Nikhil Sosale was also arrested, but was later let out on bail.
The stampede occurred when thousands of fans gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium when the bus was on its way from the Vidhana Soudha, a kilometer away.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah received the report on July 11 (Friday) and will table it before the state cabinet on July 17.