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Karnataka Govt Held RCB Event Despite Police's Warning Note? DCP's Letter Surfaces
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In a letter to the department of personnel and administrative reforms, DCP MN Karibasvanna warned of security concerns and personnel shortage for the Vidhana Soudha event
The Karnataka government ignored an explicit warning from the police about the risks of holding a felicitation ceremony for IPL-winning team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, at the Vidhana Soudha, and still went ahead with it on June 4. Later, in the evening, lakhs of cricket fans gathered outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for the victory celebrations, leading to a stampede that claimed 11 lives.
A massive crowd gathered outside the Vidhana Soudha for the felicitation event, which was attended by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar. In a letter dated June 4, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) MN Karibasvanna warned of security concerns and flagged these to the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR).
Karibasvanna related his primary concern about the event, which was to take place on the grand steps of the state legislative assembly building, was an acute shortage of officers and personnel. He told DPAR head G Satyavathi that this will severely hamper security arrangements (bandobast) for such a large-scale event.
'The RCB cricket team has a fan following across the country. Organising the event in a hurry on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha when lakhs of cricket fans will arrive at Vidhana Soudha will lead to problems in security arrangements since there is a shortage of officers/personnel in Vidhana Soudha security division," the letter said.
The stampede took place on the evening of June 4 in front of the Chinnaswamy stadium, where a large number of people thronged to take part in the RCB team's IPL victory celebrations. Eleven people died and 56 were injured in the incident.
First Published:
June 08, 2025, 11:20 IST
