Bengaluru, June 7 (UNI) In the wake of the tragic stampede that occurred outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebrations, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam have tendered their resignations, citing moral responsibility.

The incident on June 4 resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries as massive crowds gathered to celebrate RCB's maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win. Despite their limited involvement, Shankar and Jairam submitted their resignation letters dated June 6 to the KSCA president Raghuram Bhat.

In a joint statement, they said, "Due to the unforeseen and unfortunate events... and though our role was very limited, we wish to state that we have tendered our resignation... owing moral responsibility."

Following the tragedy, First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against RCB, event organisers DNA Entertainment Networks, and the KSCA under charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and public safety violations.

The Karnataka High Court has sought a status report from the government about the incident, and the state government has suspended police officers for failing to ensure adequate crowd control and security arrangements at the venue.

The incident has sparked widespread public outrage, with social media campaigns demanding accountability from key figures, including RCB players. The hashtag "Arrest Virat Kohli" trended online, criticising the team’s continued celebrations despite the unfolding tragedy.

Political leaders have also weighed in, with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi demanding the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, accusing them of negligence and inappropriate conduct during the crisis.

In response to the incident, the Karnataka government has announced a magisterial inquiry and compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of each deceased victim, along with coverage of medical expenses for the injured. RCB has pledged to match the government’s relief efforts.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy acknowledged administrative lapses, criticising RCB and stadium authorities for organising the event without police permission and publicly offering free tickets. He admitted some failure in intelligence gathering and enforcement by the government but maintained that the government should not bear sole responsibility.

UNI BDN PRS