Bengaluru stampede: Cops had warned against feting RCB at legislature
BENGALURU: Three days after a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium killed 11 peopleat RCB's IPL win celebration, it emerged that senior police officer MN Karibasavana Gowda had red-flagged the risks just before the event.
His written warning to top bureaucrats on June 4, the day of the tragedy, also cautioned against the felicitation at Vidhana Soudha.
"Lakhs of cricket fans are likely to come to Vidhana Soudha. Since there is a shortage of security personnel, making bandobast will be a problem," Gowda, in-charge of security at the legislature, wrote to department of personnel and administrative reforms secretary G Sathyavathi.
Sidda, DKS have blood on their hands, they're trying to wipe it on cops: BJP
In the letter, which TOI is in possession of, Gowda also pointed to the venue's sensitive status and lack of adequate CCTV coverage.
Hours before the surge, department of personnel and administrative reforms secretary and senior IAS officer G Sathyavathi, overseeing arrangements at Vidhana Soudha steps, publicly urged fans to head to the stadium instead - a short distance away. The team was feted at the legislature and the celebrations then moved on to the stadium. But fears of overcrowding had set in well in advance.
Despite the warning, RCB's IPL victory celebrations were allegedly rushed through - less than 24 hours after the final match - without proper crowd control or safety protocols.
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Sources said the DCP's note was also shared with then Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda, who in turn flagged it to chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh. But permissions were still granted.
Adding fuel to the political fire, Union minister and JD(S) functionary HD Kumaraswamy alleged Saturday that the celebrations were "pre-planned" even before RCB won. "The FIR says permission for the June 4 event was sought on June 3 at 6pm - 90 minutes before the final even began. Did they dream about winning?" he asked, demanding accountability from CM
Siddaramaiah
, deputy CM DK Shivakumar, and home minister G Parameshwara.
He questioned the need for a felicitation so soon. "Was such a slipshod felicitation needed? Who put pressure on the police commissioner at 7.30am that day for permission?"
BJP's Bangalore North MP and Union minister Shobha Karandlaje echoed the outrage, calling it a "misuse of govt space". "The grand stairs of Vidhana Soudha have always been used for swearing-in or state functions. You used it for a private team," she said.
Accusing the Congress brass, Karandlaje said: "Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have blood on their hands. Now they're trying to wipe it on police officers. Where are KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala hiding?"
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