Had flagged security concerns hours before RCB event: Soudha DCP

Bengaluru: With the state government facing criticism over the suspension of police officers in connection with the stampede that killed 11 people at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, it has come to light that a deputy commissioner of police had raised security concerns about hosting a felicitation for the RCB. 

Replying to a letter from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), M N Karibasavana Gowda, DCP (Vidhana Soudha security), had flagged several issues on June 4, hours before the team was felicitated on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha. 

“Royal Challengers Bengaluru has a large fan base across the country, and lakhs of fans may attend the event. There will be inconveniences in arranging bandobast for such a large crowd for a hurried event due to a shortage of staff,” Gowda wrote in Kannada in the letter addressed to DPAR Secretary G Sathyavathi. 

The DPAR had sought the DCP’s opinion on organising a felicitation ceremony for the IPL title-winning RCB team, following a request from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on June 3. 

Gowda stressed the need for coordination among multiple departments to ensure that the programme goes off smoothly. He said that collaboration with the law and order police, the traffic police, and additional deployment of personnel from other districts would be necessary. However, he noted that the limited time available posed a challenge to implementing these measures. 

“We had requested the installation of CCTV cameras in the Vidhana Soudha area as it is a vital installation but this request was ignored. In the absence of CCTVs, there may be lapses in security, especially considering the potential turnout of lakhs of people,” Gowda noted. 

The officer also mentioned that the organisers should involve the anti-sabotage team and the Public Works Department (PWD) to inspect and verify the stage’s structural stability at least two hours prior to the event. He also advised taking a fitness certificate from the electrical engineers and PWD officials. 

Gowda suggested halting the issuance of online passes for public entry to Vidhana Soudha on that day and proposed granting the secretariat officers and staff a half-day off in the afternoon. 

Concluding the letter, he stressed that there was a need for time to make security arrangements for the programme to unfold procedurally, but expressed his commitment to work as per the decision of the government.