RCB marketing head among four arrested over Bengaluru stampede
The Karnataka Police on Friday arrested four persons, including a representative of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in connection with the stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed 11 persons and injured more than 50, The Indian Express reported.
Nikhil Sosale, the marketing head of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, along with event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks' Sunil Mathew, Kiran and Sumanth, were arrested at the city's Kempegowda International Airport, NDTV reported.
This came hours after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that the state government had ordered the arrest of representatives from the Karnataka State Cricket Association, DNA Entertainment Networks and Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the stampede.
A first information report had been filed at the Cubbon Park Police Station against them earlier in the day based on a complaint that alleged that criminal negligence had led to the stampede.
Unidentified police officers told The Indian Express that the Karnataka State Cricket Association officials had been absconding since Thursday night.
The stampede took place on Wednesday at Gate Number 3 of the stadium, where fans had gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory in the Indian Premier League and welcome the team.
On Thursday, Siddaramaiah suspended Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and several police officers, The Hindu reported.
The state government named Seemanth Kumar Singh, the Additional Director-General of Police (Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force), to replace Dayananda.
Apart from Dayananda, Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Vikash Kumar Vikash, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shekhar Tekkanavar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cubbon Park Division) Bala Krishna and Cubbon Park Police Station Inspector Girish were suspended.
'The matter was discussed with the senior ministers and legal advisor AS Ponnanna,' The News Minute quoted the chief minister as saying. 'We felt the police had been irresponsible and negligent. I have never seen a stampede since I became MLA. This has distressed us all.'
The investigation in the case would be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department, the chief minister said, adding that prima facie there was negligence on the part of the police, The News Minute reported.
He also said that a judicial inquiry would be conducted by a one-man commission headed by former Karnataka High Court judge Michael D'Cunha, The Hindu reported.
Earlier on Thursday, the Karnataka High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and issued a notice to the state government. It also sought a 'further status report' from the state.
Prior to this, state Home Minister G Parameshwara had alleged that Royal Challengers Bengaluru and the Karnataka State Cricket Association wanted to organise the victory event and the state government only facilitated it.
Siddaramaiah had also made the claim on Wednesday evening, saying: 'It is not us. We didn't make any request regarding the celebration to RCB [Royal Challengers Bengaluru] and KSCA [Karnataka State Cricket Association]. They organised this.'
He had claimed that two lakh to three lakh people came for the victory march at the stadium, which has a capacity of only 35,000.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, meanwhile, had called for Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar's resignations.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday announced Rs 10 lakh compensation for each of the 11 families of the deceased. The team also said it was setting up a fund, RCB Cares, to support those injured in the incident.
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