Bengaluru Stampede News Live Updates: Karnataka CM relieves his political secretary, suspends top cops after RCB parade

A short while ago, Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah announced suspension of top city cops, IPS officer Seemanth Kumar Singh has been appointed as the Bengaluru city police commissioner. B Dayananda was suspended from the post over the stampede incident.

While RCB officials are to be arrested over the stampede as per Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah's statement, here's what's unfolding in political circles.

Holding Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar responsible for the stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that killed 11 people, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy Thursday demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sack Shivakumar from the Cabinet.

Kumaraswamy alleged that the ‘insensitive’ attitude of Shivakumar was on display after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) arrived at Bengaluru Airport following their win in the Indian Premier League, during the felicitation at Vidhana Soudha and at the stadium. “He was craving publicity even when people were dying,” he told reporters in Delhi.

He said that Shivakumar acted as a ‘rowdy’ during the incident. “What was the necessity to hold the (felicitation) event at the grand stairs of Vidhana Soudha? The entire state government made it their family event. It was a show of dadagiri by the deputy CM. Even after knowing that people had died, he participated in the event held inside the stadium,” Kumaraswamy alleged.

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said that even as TV channels were reporting the deaths, the deputy chief minister was seen kissing the cup at Chinnaswamy Stadium. “What was the necessity of organising celebrations in front of Vidhana Soudha when an event was already planned at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The government should come clean on whether the decision to celebrate at Vidhana Soudha was taken by the deputy CM or by the CM, and when that decision was made,” he said.

A day after stampede at Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium killed 11 people, Karnataka government has suspended top cops including city police commissioner B Dayananda. The state government has also ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragic incident.

A schoolgirl, a teenager who was in Bengaluru to collect his transfer certificate, an engineering student, and a civil engineer were among the 11 people who died in the tragedy.

1. Divyanshi B S: A fan who wanted to see Kohli

Fourteen-year-old Divyanshi B S was passionate about cricket and a big fan of Virat Kohli. “She wanted to see him up close. Her wish cost her her life,” Divyanshi’s mother, Ashwini U L, said on Thursday.

A Class 9 student who stayed in Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Divyanshi was a dancer who wanted to become a veterinarian doctor, her mother said. “She was a very mature person. In fact, she used to inspire me on how to handle situations in life,” Ashwini said.

“Not just Virat Kohli, she knew the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and even other players,” Ashwini, who had accompanied her daughter to watch the RCB felicitation at Chinnaswamy stadium, added.

2. Manoj Kumar: A father’s hopes dashed

Devaraj N T, a pani puri vendor in Bengaluru, was watching TV when he saw the news about a stampede at Chinnaswamy stadium. He immediately dialled his son, Manoj Kumar, 20, a BBA student at Presidency College. “Someone else picked up the phone. I sensed something amiss,” Devaraj said.

Kumar’s family shifted to Bengaluru 22 years ago. A native of Tumakuru, Kumar stayed with his parents in Yelahanka.

“The police called me and asked me to come to Bowring Hospital. I did not have the courage to see my son’s dead body,” Devaraj said. “He went to the event with two of his friends. He had told me that he would only go to Vidhana Soudha. I did not know that he had gone near Chinnaswamy stadium,” he added.

Reacting to the government announcing compensation of Rs 10 lakh, Devaraj said, “I am ready to give Rs 50 lakh…Rs 1 crore. Will they get my son back?”

3. Prajwal G: Went to stadium despite mother’s plea

Prajwal G, 22, was an engineering graduate and an employee at a private firm. An RCB fan who celebrated the team’s win with friends on Tuesday night, Prajwal ignored his mother’s entreaties not to go to the Chinnasawmy stadium on Wednesday. “He went against my will,” his mother, Pavithra, said on Thursday.

Prajwal used to stay at Yelahanka New Town and was the only son of Pavithra and Ganesh.

“By 5.30 pm, I received the call about the incident. I went to the police station and they took me to Vydehi Hospital. There were unidentified dead bodies, and the doctors told me to see them. Hoping that it would not be my son, I entered, and then my life shattered. His body was kept as he slept at home. The government has killed my son,” Pavithra cried.

4. Poorna Chandra: A Mysuru engineer with plans to get married

Poorna Chandra, 26, who hailed from K R Pet taluk in Mandya district, worked as a civil engineer in Mysuru and was a big RCB fan. On Wednesday, he was in Bengaluru to meet a woman that his family was keen to see him get married to. “I had asked him to visit the girl’s house. After visiting the house, he went to the stadium. We were not aware of it. By 6 pm, we received the call that he was dead,” Poorna’s father, R B Chandru, told the media.

His body was taken to his village on Thursday for the final rites.

5. Chinmayi Shetty: Trip with classmates ends in tragedy

Chinmayi Shetty, 19, was not an avid cricket fan, but decided to join her classmates as they made their way to the Chinnaswamy stadium to join the RCB celebrations. An engineering student who also studied Yakshagana, Chinmayi was a resident of Doddakallasandra and hailed from Mangaluru.

“She called me over the phone at about 1.30 pm and said that she was heading to the stadium. She did not have a craze for cricket, but went there with her classmates. At 5.30 pm, I received the call that she was dead,” Chinmayi’s father Karunakara Shetty said. “I have lost my daughter. What will I do with the compensation? I want my daughter back,” Karunakara cried.

6. Shivalingu Chandappa: Was in Bengaluru to get his TC

Seventeen-year-old Shivalingu, who hailed from Yadgir, was in Bengaluru to receive his transfer certificate. After collecting his documents, he decided to visit the Chinnaswamy stadium.

“I was watching TV and was blaming the public, wondering why they needed to go to the stadium and Vidhana Soudha in such big numbers. I was unaware that my son was also there,” Shivalingu’s father, Honnappa, who works as a labourer in Honigeri village in Yadgir district, said. “By evening, we received the call that Shivalingu was no more,” he added.

7. Bhoomik Lakshman: A fateful outing with friends

Bhoomik Lakshman, 19, was a resident of M S Ramaiah Layout. According to his father, Lakshman D H, Bhoomik visited the Chinnaswamy stadium with his friends. “He did not inform me, but at around 3 pm, he made a video call to his mother and showed her the celebrations. Later, I heard that there was a stampede. I tried reaching him over the phone, but he did not pick up the call,” Lakshman said.

“My son could have been saved if there were proper medical facilities. My son was killed due to the apathy of the civic agencies and the government,” he added.

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The FIR has been registered against RCB under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 115 (Voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by using dangerous weapons or means), 190 (liability of members of an unlawful assembly for offences committed in pursuit of a common object), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty), 125(12) (acts endangering life or personal safety of others), 142 (unlawful assembly) and 121 (abetment of an offence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha, who is heading the magisterial probe into the stampede near Chinnaswamy stadium, on Thursday said that notices will be issued to Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Police Commissioner B Dayananda to join the inquiry.

He inspected the Chinnaswamy stadium where the stampede broke out on Wednesday, claiming the lives of 11 people and injuring over 50 people.

PTI