Collective failure, selective action
On June 5, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the suspension of several police officers – from the City Police Commissioner down to the Inspector at the Cubbon Park station – in connection with the stampede near M Chinnaswamy Stadium which led to 11 deaths on Wednesday. This move may appear decisive, coming after public outrage and calls for deterrent action, but it is hasty and unjust. The suspensions were announced before a preliminary inquiry was conducted and without establishing prima facie a case of negligence..The government's action is deeply unfair considering that the chaos around the celebratory events, organised in the heart of the city, was triggered elsewhere. It was the management of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) that made the original announcement of a victory parade and an event at the stadium – the State Government endorsed it. There was little room for the police to operate. The action is on the grounds of dereliction of duty, also citing the Commissioner's failure to refuse permission 'in writing'. But a technicality should not have been the basis of action announced within a day after the incident..A tragedy of bad judgement and broken systems.The government has also initiated action against the franchise management and the event organisers. However, punishing the officers without examining the decision-making chain – especially when professional advice was ignored – is both unjust and demoralising..The loss of 11 lives and injuries to more than 50 people had already left a bitter aftertaste on RCB's long-awaited title victory in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This was not only about a surging crowd of fans – this was primarily about serious administrative negligence. The decision to suspend the police officers without due process compounds this tragedy. Those very officers who worked to ensure the smooth conduct of the tournament are now being vilified for a failure that was not theirs. The suspensions also need to be viewed along with reports that senior police officials had suggested holding the event on Sunday, June 8, to allow adequate time for planning..Managing events of this magnitude requires detailed planning, beginning with a comprehensive security scheme: crowd estimates, personnel deployment, patrolling points, traffic management, emergency protocols, and crime prevention. Police teams need to be mobilised from across the city, or even the state. This requires travel time, extensive coordination, and clear briefing..That process was not possible here. The city police were already fatigued, having managed the all-night fan revelry after the IPL final on June 3. The celebrations and the resultant traffic chaos had kept them on their feet till dawn. The next morning, they were called into action again, this time with no preparation..The police personnel also had to operate in a high-security zone around the Vidhana Soudha. Managing simultaneous events at the Vidhana Soudha and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) premises demanded significant deployment and security protocols. Unfortunately, the police are already working with a skeletal force. The vacancies mean that they often struggle to meet day-to-day demands, let alone a crisis. Augmentation of force strength happens sporadically, and resources are always stretched thin..A problem of priorities.The political establishment seemed eager to share the champion side's limelight. It was evident in the crowd present at the Vidhana Soudha. Considering that RCB is a privately owned entity with little organic connection to Karnataka, organising an event of this scale at the state's seat of governance was a case of serious misjudgement..RCB is one of the most followed franchises in the league, with a strong fanbase that has stayed with the side through an 18-year-long wait for the first title. The team has emerged as a popular brand built on advertisements, celebrity campaigns, and marketing drives. Thousands of fans congregated at both the Vidhana Soudha and KSCA. For many, a glimpse of the team was enough. The 2-km stretch between the two locations was packed with a teeming, unregulated crowd. When you add free access, it's not hard to see why the stadium was overwhelmed..The suspension of the officers is a knee-jerk reaction that may shield the state government from scrutiny temporarily, but it also sends a dangerous message to the police force: even when you advise correctly and act within your limitations, you may still be blamed. This is sure to demoralise the police leadership and affect the morale of the entire force..(The writer is a former Director General and Inspector General of Police, Karnataka)
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