Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s political secretary K.K. Govindraj has been removed from his post with immediate effect after a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The stampede took place on June 4 during the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB )’s first IPL title win, killing 11 people and injured more than 50.
The state government formed several senior police officers for this incident, in which Bangalore Police Commissioner B.K. Dayanand is also included, suspended. Seemant Kumar Singh has taken charge as the new Police Commissioner. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that those who did not perform their responsibility properly have been suspended prima facie.
Govindraj denied media reports that claimed that he had advised the Chief Minister not to hold the victory parade of RCB players. He said, “My words were misunderstood. I am the last person to advise cricket, because I lead the Karnataka Olympic Association.”
Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has demanded responsibility for the tragedy and resignation on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar. BJP MP Shobha Karandalje, referring to a stampede during Pushpa 2 screening in Telangana, said that actor Allu Arjun was arrested there, but the Karnataka government has not taken any equal action yet.
The Karnataka High Court took automatic cognizance of the case and sought a detailed report from the government to investigate the incident. The court also noted that only two ambulances were deployed for the event, which were insufficient for emergency.
Police have detained RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale and two officers of event management company DNA Entertainment. An FIR has also been lodged against the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
The Chief Minister has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured. RCB has also established the ‘RCB Cares’ funds to help the injured and the families of the deceased.
The tragedy occurred when about 2.5 to 3 lakh people gathered outside the stadium, while its capacity was only 35,000. Karnataka Home Minister G. God said that 8.7 lakh people traveled in the metro that day, which reflects the horrors of the crowd.