Bengaluru stampede: After action on cops, Karnataka transfers intelligence chief

Following suspension of top police officials, Intelligence Chief Hemanth Nimbalkar has now been transferred as part of the Karnataka government's administrative shake-up over the stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed eleven lives.

In Short

• Intelligence chief Hemanth Nimbalkar transferred after stampede incident
• 11 people died during RCB IPL victory celebrations stampede outside Chinnaswamy stadium
• Police Commissioner B Dayananda, top officials suspended following incident

The Karnataka government on Friday transferred Intelligence Chief Hemanth Nimbalkar, an IPS officer, as part of its ongoing administrative overhaul following the stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that claimed eleven lives.

The transfer came a day after the suspension of Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and other senior police officials. The decisions follow mounting public pressure and outrage over the incident, which occurred on June 4 during the Indian Premier League victory celebrations of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team. The event had drawn large crowds, leading to a deadly stampede at the stadium’s gates.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday following a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the immediate suspension of Police Commissioner B Dayananda, the officer in charge of Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Assistant Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), the Station House Officer, the Police Housemaster, and the Cubbon Park Police Station in-charge.

Earlier in the day, the Karnataka BJP strongly condemned the Congress-led state government for suspending Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, describing the move as an unprecedented attack on the police force. The party posted on X, “For the first time in the history of Karnataka, cold-blooded murderers are punishing top police officers.”

The suspension has unleashed an outpouring of support – with former officers, political parties, citizens, and online communities rallying behind him en masse. Widespread support has been building for him on social media under the hashtag #IStandWithBDayanand. Citizens, former police officers and political parties alike have raised questions over the Karnataka government’s decision, calling it hasty and unfair.