Thank you dear subscribers, we are overwhelmed with your response.
Your Turn is a unique section from ThePrint featuring points of view from its subscribers. If you are a subscriber, have a point of view, please send it to us. If not, do subscribe here: https://theprint.in/subscribe/
The media blitz covering RCB’s much awaited IPL win after a long and agonizing wait of 18
years with the catchy slogan “Ee Sala Cup Namade” reached a crescendo on the night of 3rd June ( Finals) with their victory. Residential societies, commercial establishments, hotels, restaurants, pubs and independent homes all over India, screened the epic final match against PBKS and the fans broke into rupture hitting the roads in major metros in the country after the victory. In Bangalore, the nerve-centre of the celebrations which began late in the night on 3rd night went into the wee hours of 4th June. The police and other security personnel were tired, controlling the crowd the entire night.
However, without any consideration to their gruelling efforts the previous night, the police was asked to do the “ Bandobast” for the roadside show the very next day i.e. on 4th June evening.
Reports say that despite the request to postpone the roadshow to Sunday ( 8th June) for
effective crowd management, the RCB, KSCA and the politicians wanted to bask in the glory and make this an unforgettable event.
Ironically, the event became unforgettable for wrong reasons.
The preparations were recipes for a disaster. Firstly, the police were not even aware how many would turn up for the road show and for the felicitation ceremony at the Chinnaswamy stadium which had the capacity to accommodate around 35000 people. The ground intelligence failed to give an estimate. When eventually more than a few lacs turned up for the event the police were caught unawares. The home department deployed one thousand security personnel to control a surging crowd of a few lacs! Secondly, only a couple of gates were kept open for the lakhs of people to surge in which resulted in stampede and in injuries and in deaths. The cup of joy turned into a cup of sorrow for the fans. Regarding the crowd numbers the CM said it was between 2 to 3 lacs, the Dy.CM said it was around 5 lacs. The home minister claimed the gathering to be around 7 to 8 lacs. It is a pity that none of the responsible people knew the figures and every one was indulging in wild guess work.
The frenzy of witnessing their IPL heroes especially Virat Kohli with the IPL cup threw the crowd management into a pandemonium and in the mayhem that followed, resulted in the death of 11 youngsters in the prime of their youth and injuries to 56 people. Some of the deceased youth were the only children to their parents. Such was the rampage that the entire area was strewn with shoes, chappals, torn dresses, bags and even spectacles. It reflected the enormous physical trauma faced by the fans trying to escape from the melee.
While all this bedlam was happening at the Chinnaswamy stadium the politicians and their
family members were busy in photo-ops with the players at the Vidhana Soudha unconcerned about the happenings at a stone’s throw distance. How can the Government now claim that they are not aware of the event when a facilitation function was held in Vidhana Soudha?
Media documents also reveal that the principal secretary cleared the request from RCB on 3rd itself to hold the event on 4th. Now, to find scapegoats, the government suspended the police commissioner and a few top police officials and set up an enquiry committee. They made the KSCA, RCB officials accused in the case and washed off their hands. None of the politicians were held accountable for the incident. They all enjoy unlimited immunity from law.
It is a matter of serious concern that the government failed to protect the lives of ordinary
citizens and threw all safety measures to the winds. Mere suspension of a few officials and offer of ex gratia payment will not compensate for the anguish and sorrow of the parents who lost their children.
As John F Kennedy once said “Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan”. If the event was smooth and successful everyone would have taken credit for their part in it. The politicians would have been the first to raise their hands.Since it was a disaster, they are now pointing fingers at everyone else except themselves. It is disheartening to note that Virat kohli who was praising his loyal RCB fans sky-high for their unstinted support all these years, kept mum and has not announced any financial assistance to the bereaved families. He should take up moral responsibility for their deaths and offer help to the families of the victims. He should remember that it is the loyal fan-following that gave him the demi-god status.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.