Bengaluru: The suspension of Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda over the June 4 stadium stampede that killed 11 people has triggered a fierce backlash from retired police officers and political leaders, who slammed the move as premature, politically driven, and unfair.
The Karnataka home department issued the suspension order citing Dayananda’s alleged failure to respond or act on information received from the RCB management a day before the event. Despite this, many have rallied behind the ousted commissioner, citing his clean service record and insisting that accountability must extend beyond the police.
A Growing Outcry from Police Veterans
Former Bengaluru commissioner Megharikh condemned the decision, stating it lacked a preliminary inquiry and unfairly isolated the police despite multiple agencies being involved. Ex-IPS officer Bhaskar Rao called the action “the darkest day in Karnataka Police history,” pointing fingers at political figures for orchestrating the parade without adequate planning.
Opposition Slams “Scapegoating”
The BJP and JD(S) leaders joined the criticism. Opposition leader R Ashoka linked the move to infighting within the Congress, while JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy accused CM Siddaramaiah and DCM D.K. Shivakumar of ignoring police warnings and pushing forward with the event for political mileage.
Public & Ground-Level Support
Social media has seen a surge of support for Dayananda, with an online petition demanding revocation of his suspension gaining traction. A head constable even staged a solo protest, marching in uniform with a photo of Dr B.R. Ambedkar to express dissent.
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