BENGALURU: Reeling under massive public outrage over the stampede during RCB’s victory celebrations at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 dead, Karnataka govt Thursday took an unprecedented step of suspending five senior police officers, including Bengaluru City police commissioner B Dayananda, an IPS officer.

This is the first time in Karnataka’s history that a serving police commissioner has been suspended.The other officials suspended are additional commissioner of police (west) Vikash Kumar Vikash, IPS; deputy commissioner of police (central) Shekhar H Tekkannavar, IPS; assistant commissioner of police (Cubbon Park sub-division) Balakrishna C and Cubbon Park police station inspector Girish AK. CM Siddaramaiah said action has been taken against these police officers for dereliction of duty and negligence.The CM also ordered immediate arrest of top officers of RCB, event management firm DNA and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Two FIRs have been registered in this connection and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had been tasked with leading the police probe.The CM said, “Prima facie, it appears there was negligence and apathy on the part of the organisers and this led to the tragedy. An incident of this scale had never occurred during my political career since my days as MLA. After having collected evidence and statements from senior police officers and opinions of ministers, these stern decisions have been taken.”The police have been informed as to who of the representatives from the three organisations have to be arrested, the CM said. State home minister G Parameshwara said names of the individuals will become public as soon as arrests are made.On the alleged involvement of a powerful minister behind the hurried celebrations, the CM said: “Let the inquiry report be submitted and action will be initiated against those found guilty.”

Panel told to submit report in 30 days

The govt ordered a one-man commission led by retired justice, John Michael D Cunha, to probe the tragedy and submit a report in 30 days.On Wednesday, two FIRs were registered over the stampede. One case was a suo motu by Cubbon Park police, and the other an FIR based on a complaint filed by an injured person. In the suo motu case, the complaint was filed by police inspector Girish AK. The accused are RCB franchise as accused no. 1, DNA Entertainment accused no. 2, and KSCA administrative committee as accused no. 3.According to Girish, KSCA CEO Shubendu Ghosh approached him around 6pm on June 3 (Tuesday), requesting security arrangements for likely victory celebrations of RCB on the evening of June 4 at the stadium. The inspector denied permission, explaining that if RCB won, the fans would celebrate all night, and proper police security arrangements would have to be made for it.If the victory celebration was organised on June 4, lakhs of fans would attend, causing obstruction to traffic. He explained they would need time to make proper security arrangements. However, KSCA, DNA and RCB “pressured and insisted” on holding the victory celebration, Girish claimed.The case has been registered under the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other sections. The second complaint is registered under BNS Section 125 A (act endangering life or personal safety of others), based on a complaint by Rolongumes, 25, one of the injured. He has not named anyone in the plaint.