Police Unease In Bengaluru As Heads Roll; BJP, Congress Spar Over ‘Scapegoat’ Fees

Final Up to date:June 06, 2025, 16:24 IST

Bengaluru Stampede: The BJP’s assault follows Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s determination to droop Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, together with a number of officers

Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Congress chief Priyank Kharge | File Picture/PTI

Dissent is rising throughout the Karnataka police following the suspension of senior officers within the aftermath of the Bengaluru stampede, with many personnel believing the police are being made “scapegoats” for the tragic incident that claimed 11 lives.

Police constable Narasimharaju staged a protest holding a photograph of Dr BR Ambedkar, symbolising his name for justice. He additionally wrote a letter to the Governor, requesting the cancellation of Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayanand’s suspension.

In his letter, Narasimharaju urged the Governor to offer safety to the police power, highlighting considerations over the therapy of officers working beneath troublesome circumstances.

In the meantime, the BJP slammed the Congress authorities in Karnataka over the stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, accusing the ruling celebration leaders of utilizing cops as scapegoats to deflect blame.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior BJP chief BS Yediyurappa termed the state authorities’s response as “shameful,” accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar of abandoning their ethical accountability throughout the unfolding tragedy.

“It is a shameful act that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers themselves stood up and the entire government took responsibility for the system, and while celebrating RCB’s victory, they forgot their moral responsibility,” Yediyurappa stated in a put up on X in Kannada.

“To calm public anger, they have made five police officers, including the Police Commissioner, scapegoats. This is a dark chapter in Karunad’s history,” he added.

The BJP’s assault follows Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s determination to droop Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, together with a number of senior officers — together with the ACP, DCP (Central), Cubbon Park SHO, and the stadium in-charge — within the wake of the stampede.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night exterior Chinnaswamy Stadium throughout the IPL victory celebration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which was co-hosted by the Karnataka State Cricket Affiliation (KSCA) and DNA Networks.

BJP Mounts Assault

Chief of Opposition within the Karnataka Meeting, R Ashoka, additionally voiced comparable considerations, questioning the obvious contradictions throughout the Congress management.

“Yesterday, DK Shivakumar said the police had issued prior warnings and were not responsible. Now Siddaramaiah has suspended the Police Commissioner and several other top officials. What is going on?”

Additional holding the Congress management answerable for the stampede, he stated, “It was the police only who took all the injured people and the bodies to hospitals. The police gave first aid, did everything,” he stated.

“Do hard work but get bad remarks in return. This is the government.”

An FIR was registered on Thursday towards the RCB franchise, occasion supervisor DNA Leisure, the Karnataka State Cricket Affiliation (KSCA) administration, and others. The case is now being investigated by the Legal Investigation Division (CID).

Congress Responds

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge responded on Friday to the latest stampede in Bengaluru, confirming that the officers concerned had been suspended and {that a} magisterial inquiry had been initiated to probe the incident.

“The officers who are responsible have been suspended. We have made no scapegoats… A magisterial enquiry has been ordered and our next action will be according to the findings of the enquiry,” Kharge stated.

Additional, Karnataka House Minister G Parameshwara stated the federal government didn’t organise the celebrations on the stadium.

“We did not make any request to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise or the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in this regard, and they had organised the victory celebration event. The government also felt that it should felicitate the players and be a part of the celebration because it was a Bengaluru team. That’s all,” he stated.

The Karnataka Excessive Court docket, taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, issued a discover to the state authorities and requested a standing report. The matter has been scheduled for the following listening to on June 10.