Police in Bengaluru, India, have arrested four people after a tragic crowd crush killed 11 people during a celebration for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team’s IPL victory earlier this week.
The incident happened on Wednesday when a huge crowd gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium for a victory parade. More than 200,000 people showed up, even though police had expected only around 100,000. The stadium can hold only 32,000 people and was overcrowded before the RCB team even arrived.
Read more: Bengaluru Stampede: 11 Dead, RCB Top Boss Nabbed at Airport While Trying To Flee?
Among those arrested are people linked to RCB and the event management company that organised the celebration. They were responsible for posting details about the parade on RCB’s website and social media, which led to the massive turnout.
The government has also suspended five senior police officers, including Bengaluru’s police chief, for failing to properly manage the event and crowd.
Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that a police complaint has been filed and legal action is being taken against the RCB franchise, the event organisers, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association. The Karnataka High Court has also asked for a full report on the incident.
India’s cricket coach Gautam Gambhir criticised the decision to host such a large roadshow. “If we weren’t ready to hold it safely, it shouldn’t have been done,” he said. “Every life matters.”
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RCB announced that they will give ₹10 lakh (around £9,000) to the families of the victims.
The investigation is still ongoing, and more arrests may follow.
