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A group of retired senior police officers have urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take action against the police officials only after the completion of the ongoing judicial inquiry into the June 4 stampede at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.
In an open letter, the retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officers expressed condolences for the tragic deaths of cricket fans but blamed the incident on what they described as the “haste, over-enthusiasm and commercial interests” of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and associated event organisers.
The former IPS officers alleged that police officers — from the Station House Officer (SHO) of Cubbon Park to the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru — had conveyed their concerns about hosting a massive victory celebration just hours after RCB's IPL final win in Ahmedabad. They claimed the police had advised that the event be postponed to June 8, allowing adequate time for preparation and coordination.
“However, that was not to be,” the letter stated, alleging that the advice was ignored and the organisers continued to promote the celebrations online, offering free passes and calling fans to the stadium.
The officers questioned the lack of formal directives overriding the police's concerns and noted that the event was carried out with "presumed tacit support of the government." They pointed out that the Chinnaswamy Stadium can accommodate only around 35,000 people, but the celebrations drew an unexpected crowd of over two to three lakh fans.
Following the stampede, several senior police officials, including the city’s Police Commissioner, B Dayananda were suspended. Requesting that the suspension be revoked, the retired IPS officers called the suspension “unjust,” noting that the Commissioner had an “unblemished record of service and integrity,” and argued that the suspensions had created an impression of scapegoating.
They urged the Chief Minister to instead hold accountable those who insisted on holding the celebrations despite warnings and to impose penalties on profit-driven organisations “who played with the lives of innocent fans.”
The letter was signed by 30 retired IPS officers across the country, with BS Sial from the Karnataka cadre.
The Indian Police Foundation (IPF) has also raised serious concerns over the suspension of five police officers. The Foundation cautioned that such premature action, without establishing individual responsibility, risks being seen as scapegoating rather than genuine accountability and could have a demoralising effect on the police force.