3 days ago
Bengaluru stampede: RCB and Karnataka Cricket Association booked for culpable homicide
A day after a stampede at the M Chinnaswamy stadium claimed 11 lives during celebrations over Royal Challengers Bangalore's maiden IPL title win, police on Thursday booked a suo motu case of culpable homicide against the cricket team and others.
The Cubbon Park police have booked a case against RCB, DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) administration under sections 105 (culpable homicide), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons), 118 (2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) read with 3(5) (joint liability), 190 (unlawful assembly), 132 (assault or criminal force against a public servant to deter them from discharging their duty.), 125 (a) (act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 125 (b) (individual's act endangers the life or personal safety of others, resulting in hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Girish A K, inspector of Cubbon Park police station, said in a complaint that the KSCA administration was denied permission to hold the celebrations.
On Tuesday, RCB was playing finals against Kings X1 Punjab and after the finals, there were celebrations during the night on MG Road, Church Street, in front of the M Chinnaswamy cricket stadium, UB City and Vittal Mallya Road. Cubbon Park police officials were deployed till 5.30 am on Wednesday, the FIR stated.
On Tuesday, Shubendhu Ghosh, Chief Executive Officer of the KSCA, requested permission to allow celebrations (if RCB wins) at the M Chinnaswamy cricket stadium and sought security. However, the police said that if RCB won, lakhs of fans would gather and the police would be deployed for night security as well. The KSCA administration was also informed that there were chances of lakhs of people gathering and that the police would require time to arrange security and traffic diversions.
The police also denied permission but the KSCA, DNA Entertainment and RCB allegedly insisted on holding the celebrations on Wednesday.
Around 9 am on Wednesday, police officers were informed and the police commissioner immediately permitted the deployment of additional forces from other police divisions of the city. There was also a felicitation event at the Vidhana Soudha, for which security was provided.
By 5 pm, lakhs of people started gathering in front of the Chinnaswamy stadium. The police were also deployed. However, the KSCA, DNA Entertainment and RCB failed to decide who should enter the stadium as the seating capacity was about 30,000-35,000.
Around 3.10 pm, the gates near overcrowded places were opened and a stampede ensued. The local police, with the help of the public, took the injured persons to hospital. Later, the police using a public address system and other resources took the public to safe places. The police also ensured that the event at 5.45 pm was conducted safely.
Despite having no permission, RCB, KSCA and DNA Entertainment went ahead with the celebrations without ensuring safety, according to the FIR. Also, the FIR said that RCB had said on its social media handles and website that the free passes would be distributed near gates, leading to the stampede.
According to the FIR, the stampede took place at gates 2, 2a, 6, 7, 15, 17,18, 20, and 21. The police accused RCB, KSCA and DNA Entertainment of not allowing entry to the stadium on time as well as indecision, leading to the stampede, in which 11 people were killed and 64 others injured.
