Bengaluru Stampede: RCB Officials Arrested Following Tragic Incident

Tragic Celebration Turns Deadly

Bengaluru Police have apprehended two high-ranking officials from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and DNA Entertainment Networks in relation to the stampede that occurred during RCB's IPL victory celebrations on June 4. This unfortunate event resulted in the loss of 11 lives and left over 50 individuals injured.

The Ill-Fated Victory Parade

After clinching their inaugural IPL title, RCB planned an extravagant celebration that included a victory parade starting from Vidhana Soudha and culminating at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Fans were promised complimentary passes to join the festivities.

However, due to concerns regarding traffic and security, the authorities opted to cancel the parade. Despite this, a large number of fans still gathered outside the stadium, eager to see the players with the trophy.

By around 5 PM, chaos erupted at Gate No. 7 of the stadium. The lack of adequate barricades and crowd management led to a stampede, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread panic among the public.

Legal Actions and Ongoing Investigations

On June 6, police detained Nikhil Sosale, RCB's marketing head, and Sunil Mathew, a senior official from DNA Entertainment Networks, at Kempegowda International Airport as they were en route to Mumbai.

An FIR has been filed against RCB, DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for criminal negligence and inadequate crowd management.

The Karnataka High Court has taken notice of the incident and has instructed the state government to provide a status report by June 10. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has mandated a judicial inquiry led by retired High Court judge Justice Michael Cunha, who has been tasked with delivering a comprehensive report within 30 days.

Support and Compensation for Victims

In response to the public outcry and sorrow, RCB has pledged ₹10 lakh in compensation to the families of the deceased and has established an 'RCB Cares' fund to assist the 47 injured individuals. The Karnataka government has also committed to covering all medical expenses for the victims, regardless of whether they are treated in public or private hospitals.

What was once a celebration has turned into a period of mourning, with many questioning the management's failure in crowd control and safety measures. As investigations progress and accountability is sought, the priority now is to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.