Tribunal quashes suspension of senior police officer over Bengaluru stampede

The Central Administrative Tribunal on Tuesday set aside an order by the Karnataka government suspending Bengaluru’s Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash after the stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed 11 persons.

A bench comprising Judicial Member Justice BK Shrivastava and Member Santosh Mehra said that the suspension order had been passed “in a mechanical manner” and without sufficient grounds. It directed the state government to reinstate Vikash immediately.

The tribunal also said that prima facie it appeared that Royal Challengers Bengaluru was “responsible for the gathering” outside the stadium after it “suddenly posted” about the event without seeking prior permission from the police.

“It cannot [be] expected from the police that within a short time of about 12 hours the police will make all arrangements required in the Police Act or in the other rules, etc,” the tribunal said in its order. “Police personnel are also human beings.”

Sufficient time should be given to the police to control and make arrangements for such large crowds, it added.

The stampede had taken place at Gate Number 3 of the stadium on June 4, where fans had gathered to celebrate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory in the Indian Premier League. Eleven persons were killed and more than 50 were injured in the incident.

On June 5, the state...

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