Bengaluru:
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, under attack from the BJP over yesterday’s stampede in Bengaluru that claimed 11 lives, said today that his government has suspended top police officers involved. The police commissioner and his deputy have been suspended and the next step will be against the Royal Challengers Bangalore or RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association and their publicist DNA Entertainment, Mr Siddaramaiah told the media this evening.
The RCB had apparently disregarded police advice to allow a few more days to prepare for the felicitation ceremony.
The state’s Criminal Investigation Department, the Chief Minister added, will take over the investigation into the mishap that has shocked the country. The Chief Minister had ordered an inquiry into the incident earlier by a one-man Commission of retired High Court judge Justice Michael Cunha.
The maiden IPL victory of the RCB after an 18-year-wait had been an emotive issue in the state and the people were desperate to attend the team’s felicitation at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy stadium last evening. The tragedy, which took place as the fans jostled to enter the stadium, had left 11 people dead and 47 injured.