Bengaluru, Jun 12 (UNI) Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Thursday urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take suo motu cognisance of the June 4 stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here, which left 11 people dead and 75 injured during the IPL victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
In a letter addressed to NHRC Chairperson, Ashoka alleged gross negligence and administrative failure on the part of the state government, police, and event organisers. He described the incident as a “grave human rights violation” and called for a comprehensive investigation to fix accountability.
“This is not merely an unfortunate accident—it reflects a systemic failure and blatant disregard for public safety. The fundamental right to life of the victims was violated,” Ashoka stated.
The stampede occurred when thousands of people gathered near the stadium following social media messages and reports that entry to the celebration would be free. The turnout reportedly far exceeded the crowd-handling capacity of the area.
Ashoka outlined five major lapses that he believes led to the tragic stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. He pointed to overcrowding caused by misleading announcements and overselling of the event, which resulted in lakhs of people arriving at a venue meant to accommodate only 35,000. This, he alleged, was exacerbated by inadequate police deployment and a lack of basic crowd control measures.
Ashoka further highlighted the absence of emergency services at the scene, with eyewitnesses reporting shortages of ambulances, medical aid, and even water. He accused RCB, the event management firm DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) of failing to coordinate and implement essential safety protocols. The state government’s delayed and inadequate response—despite registering FIRs and announcing a probe—was also criticised as insufficient and reactive.
Calling the incident a grave human rights violation, Ashoka appealed to the NHRC to take suo motu cognisance of the tragedy. He sought a thorough investigation into the roles of all responsible parties, legal action against those found negligent, formulation of national guidelines for large public events, and active monitoring of the inquiry to ensure accountability and justice for the victims.
“This tragedy has shaken public confidence. It is imperative that justice be delivered and preventive steps be taken to ensure no family has to suffer such a loss again,” he wrote.
The state government has not yet responded to the allegations made in the letter. The NHRC is yet to make a statement on whether it will take up the matter. UNI BDN SSP