The Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) long-awaited IPL victory in 2025 was met with immense celebrations, but tragically, a stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to dozens more. Amidst the grief and outrage, it has emerged that the Bengaluru police were not in favor of holding the victory event on the day it occurred, raising serious questions about why their concerns were seemingly ignored.

Several senior police officers have revealed that they advised against holding the celebrations so soon after the victory, suggesting instead that it be postponed by a week. Their primary concern was that emotions were running high, and holding an event at short notice would be ill-advised. One officer stated that they had tried to discourage both the government and the RCB franchise from proceeding with the celebrations on Wednesday, recommending that it be held the following Sunday to allow emotions to cool down.

The police had also expressed concerns about the initial plan to hold a procession from Vidhana Soudha to various key locations before culminating at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. They advised against any procession, suggesting instead that the event be held in one place in an organized manner, with the players being brought directly to the stadium.

Despite these concerns, both the government and the RCB management were reportedly keen on holding the celebrations on Wednesday itself. One reason cited was that some players, particularly the foreign contingent, were scheduled to leave soon. There were also suggestions that the government wanted to capitalize on the victory for political gain. A police officer noted that if the government had refused to hold the event, it could have led to another kind of chaos.

Another critical factor was the strain on the city's police force. Celebrations had continued late into the night after the victory, stretching police resources thin. One officer noted that the entire staff had been on the streets until the early hours of the morning and were completely exhausted.

The city police had anticipated a crowd of around 30,000 to 40,000 people for the celebrations, which matched the stadium's capacity of 35,000. As a result, they deployed approximately 3,000 police personnel, which is standard for high-profile matches. However, the actual turnout was far greater, with estimates ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 people. This overwhelming number of fans trying to enter the stadium led to a chaotic situation that quickly spiraled out of control.

The tragic stampede has led to widespread criticism of the event's planning and execution. Opposition parties have blamed the Congress-led Karnataka government for poor planning and mismanagement, calling for a judicial inquiry into the incident and demanding accountability. Questions have been raised about why the police's advice was not heeded and whether sufficient measures were taken to manage the massive crowd that gathered.

Karnataka's Chief Minister has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the stampede, to be conducted by the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner, with a report expected within 15 days. The inquiry will likely focus on the decision-making process that led to the event being held despite police concerns, as well as the measures that were in place to manage the crowd and ensure public safety.

The incident has also prompted discussions about the need for better crowd control measures and disaster preparedness for large-scale events. Former police officials and eyewitnesses have pointed to a series of administrative failures, from a lack of clear instructions about access to inadequate crowd management.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, both RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) have expressed their condolences and announced compensation for the families of the victims. However, questions remain about who ultimately bears responsibility for the failures that led to the stampede and what steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of careful planning, risk assessment, and adherence to expert advice when organizing large public events.