Legal Action After Bengaluru Stampede
In the wake of a tragic stampede that resulted in the deaths of 11 fans during a victory parade, the Karnataka Police have initiated a First Information Report (FIR) against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket team. The FIR also targets the event management company, DNA Entertainment Networks, along with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Administrative Committee.
The FIR, filed at the Cubbon Park Police Station, cites criminal negligence related to the stampede incident.
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During a recent court session, the Karnataka government revealed that over 1,000 police officers, including senior officials, were present at M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the stampede, which led to 11 fatalities. This figure contradicts Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's earlier assertion of 5,000 officers on duty. The High Court has taken notice of the incident and has issued a directive to the state government.
Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty assured the court of their willingness to follow any instructions. The court emphasized the need to investigate how the tragedy unfolded and what preventive measures could be implemented in the future.
The government reported that they had deployed water tankers, ambulances, and control vehicles, surpassing the arrangements made for previous events. However, the crowd swelled to over 250,000, far exceeding the stadium's capacity of 35,000, with many attendees anticipating free entry. By 3 PM, the area had become overcrowded.
Shetty provided details on the casualties: Gate 7 (4 deaths), Gate 6 (3 deaths), and Queens Road (4 deaths). All 21 gates were open, allowing spectators inside. The government acknowledged that Standard Operating Procedures for crowd management are still under development, following directives from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after the incident. The court is scheduled to reconvene on this matter on Tuesday.
