Bengaluru: A chorus of support has emerged for former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, who was suspended along with four other officers following the tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives. In two strongly worded open letters made public Monday, former top IPS officers, CBI chiefs, NSG commanders, and senior civil servants questioned the rationale of the Karnataka government’s decision to suspend senior police officials prior to the completion of a judicial inquiry.
Police Warnings Ignored, Say Retired Officials
The Indian Police Foundation, in its June 8 letter, pointed fingers at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for allegedly pushing forward with post-victory celebrations despite documented police objections. The officers had warned that the city was not prepared for such a large-scale gathering just hours after the team’s return from Ahmedabad.
“The police officials had conveyed in writing and otherwise about the danger of acceding to the request,” the letter stated.
The Foundation condemned the decision to host the parade in haste, criticising the lack of crowd control measures and accusing organisers of ignoring warnings about venue capacity and fan management.
Suspension Without Inquiry: ‘Scapegoating the Police’
In a separate June 3 letter, the Foundation warned that suspending officers before the completion of the judicial inquiry gives the appearance of scapegoating, undermines institutional trust, and demoralises the police force.
“To isolate the police for punitive action, while other stakeholders escape scrutiny, distorts the reality of shared responsibility,” the letter added.
The group argued that the police were not given formal written directions to proceed with the event, and any action taken against them should await the outcome of the judicial review – which is expected within a month.
Appeal for Reinstatement and Systemic Review
Calling the suspensions “premature and unjust,” the Foundation has urged the government to reinstate the five officers, including Dayananda, until the inquiry concludes. It also offered to assist the government with a non-punitive post-incident review, focused on improving crowd safety and response systems rather than assigning blame.
“Disciplinary action, if warranted, should follow from the findings, and not precede them,” the letter emphasized.
Prominent Signatories Add Weight to Appeal
The appeal has been signed by more than 30 decorated former police and security officials, including–
- Prakash Singh (Former DGP, UP & Assam)
- RS Mooshahary (Former Governor of Meghalaya and ex-DG, NSG & BSF)
- Former colleagues of NSA Ajit Doval from central intelligence and enforcement agencies
Their united stand is being viewed as a rare but forceful act of solidarity, demanding accountability from all stakeholders – not just the uniformed officers on duty.
