Credit: DH photo
Bengaluru: The Justice John Michael Cunha Commission investigating the June 4 Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede has recommended “appropriate legal action” against IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), DNA Entertainment Networks Ltd and the suspended police officers, including former Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda.
On June 4, victory celebrations of RCB’s maiden IPL triumph in 18 years turned tragic, as 11 people died in the stampede.
The commission was formed on June 5, and Justice Cunha submitted the report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on July 11. On Thursday, the Cabinet received the report but deferred it to the next meeting.
According to parts of the report which DH has accessed, the commission has also recommended action against three KSCA functionaries, including its president Raghuram Bhat, Royal Challenge Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL) vice-president Rajesh Menon and two DNA functionaries, including M D Sunil Mathur.
Besides Dayananda, it has also recommended action against four suspended police officers – IGP and ADGP (Bengaluru West) Vikash Kumar Vikash, DCP (Central) Shekhar H Tekkannavar, Cubbon Park sub-division ACP Balakrishna and Cubbon Park inspector Girish.
Addressing a press conference on June 5, Chief Minister Siddarmaiah had announced the suspension of the five officers and slammed RCB, DNA and KSCA for “irresponsibility” and “carelessness”.
The report notes that the ceremony was held without prior permission of the licensing authority, as required under the Provisions of the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bengaluru City) order, 2009.
Lashing out at the suspended police officers, the report states that these officers “failed to stop the event knowing fully well that the event was unauthorised, and that it was organised in haste without proper security arrangements”.
The commission has opined that “reckless announcements” by organisers regarding entry into the stadium and not regulating the entry into the gates is the “root cause” for the stampede and the consequent deaths and injuries.
“This situation was created by the organisers themselves due to the lack of preparation and hasty decision, which is tantamount to recklessness bordering on gross negligence, for which the organisers should be made accountable. The organisers failed to make any arrangements for the safety and security of the invitees,” the report states.
Noting that the design and structure of the stadium was unsuitable and unsafe for mass gathering, the report explained that one of the key reasons for the stampede was the “improper and unscientific” installation of the barricades and the narrowly constricted entry gates.
The Commission has recommended that the stadium authorities relocate events attracting large crowds to different venues. It has directed that such venues must adhere to international standards, having adequate entry/exit gates, integrated public transport access points, emergency evacuation plans and so on.
“Until such infrastructural changes are made, continuing to host high-attendance events at the current location poses unacceptable risks to public safety, urban mobility and emergency preparedness.”
The report has also mandated deploying a minimum number of ambulances on site.