Black armband, Ambedkar's photo: Bengaluru cop protests police chief's suspension

A Bengaluru head constable marched alone to Raj Bhavan, opposing Police Commissioner B Dayananda's suspension by the Karnataka government following the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede which claimed eleven lives.

In Short

• Constable marched solo with Ambedkar photo and black armband
• Protest followed suspension after stampede killed eleven at stadium
• Officer detained by Vidhana Soudha police near Raj Bhavan

In a rare act of protest from within the police force, a head constable from Bengaluru’s Madiwala Police Station marched in uniform from Vidhana Soudha to Raj Bhavan on Friday, opposing the suspension of Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda following the stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium which claimed 11 lives.

Head Constable Narasimharaju wore a black band and held a photograph of Dr BR Ambedkar during his solo protest, which was aimed at expressing dissent over the government’s handling of senior police officers. The demonstration concluded with his detention by the Vidhana Soudha police near Raj Bhavan.

The Karnataka BJP reacted strongly to the development, calling it a “mutiny” within the state police. Posting on social media platform X, the party said, “When the police themselves rebel against the Congress government holding Dr BR Ambedkar’s photo, it's not just a protest. It is a clear statement of no confidence.”

“The very protectors of law are now standing against the Congress government. A massive letdown of the police force by the state,” the BJP added.

The post further accused the Congress of misusing the Constitution, stating, “Congress uses the Constitution as a photo prop. They neither respect it nor understand it.” The protest follows growing criticism of the Karnataka government’s decision to suspend Commissioner B Dayananda following the June 4 stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 people dead and several others injured.

The suspension has triggered widespread reactions, with former police officers, Opposition parties, and citizens rallying in support of Dayananda. Social media has seen a surge in messages under the hashtag #IStandWithBDayanand, as users questioned the state government’s decision and called it unfair and hasty.

Bengaluru police personnel, disheartened by the decision, were reportedly considering wearing black bands on their sleeves as a mark of protest. According to sources, discussions were underway among officers on how to respond, with some reportedly fearful of backlash from the government.