New Delhi: A flurry changes has taken place in Karnataka after the tragic stampede incident in Bengaluru during RCB’s victory parade. The stampede, which took place on June 4, killed 11 people, including a 14-year-old girl, and injured 47.
It led to the suspension of the Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and some other key police officials. And now, in another major move, the Karnataka government has sacked K Govindaraj, the political secretary of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and transferred Hemant Nimbalkar, the head of the intelligence department.
The chaos in Bengaluru
The stampede took place when lakhs of fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of players from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru after they won the IPL 2025. The victory came after a wait of 18 years, but the celebrations became tragic when a huge crowd gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium and a rumour of free entry reportedly resulted in the stampede.
On June 5, CM Siddaramaiah suspended Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, Assistant Commissioner of Police C Balakrishna, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) Shekhar H Tekkannavar, Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash and Circle Police Inspector of Cubbon Park Police station A K Girish. The suspension order read, “It is found that there has been, on the face of it, substantial dereliction of duty by these officers.”
While the Opposition has accused the Congress government in Karnataka of making the police officers scapegoats, Siddaramaiah dismissed the allegation. He accused the opposition of playing politics over the issue and said that those responsible prima facie for the stampede have been suspended.
