Top Cop's Suspension Over Stampede Draws Flak From Ex-Officers and Oppn

The Karnataka government's decision to suspend Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda following the June 4 stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has drawn sharp criticism from former police officers and opposition leaders, who described the move as hasty, unjust, and politically motivated.

- Arun Dev

BENGALURU:

Dayananda, who held the city's top police post until June 5, was suspended on Thursday by the state home department for alleged lapses in managing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebrations.

The stampede, which took place as crowds surged outside the stadium to attend the felicitation event organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), left 11 people dead and over 50 injured.

According to the official suspension order, RCB's CEO formally notified the commissioner's office on June 3 about the parade scheduled for the following day. The government said Dayananda failed to respond in writing, nor did he take adequate steps to manage the expected turnout, despite having prior knowledge.

But several former senior police officers have rallied in support of Dayananda, calling the action unjustified and politically expedient.

"It's an unfortunate incident of suspending a commissioner without preliminary inquiry and fact finding. Police were only a small part of this event. Suspension of the commissioner is not the right way to do it," said former Bengaluru commissioner NS Megharikh. "Why did they not do it in the beginning? Bigger stakeholders are there. We are upset as IPS and commissioners fraternity. Mistakes are bound to happen but reactions can't follow this way," he added.

Retired IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, another former commissioner, went further in his condemnation, accusing the state's leadership of using the police as scapegoat to deflect public anger.