Four Arrested Over Deadly Bengaluru Cricket Stadium Crush

Indian authorities have arrested four individuals, including the head of marketing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team, following a deadly stampede during celebrations for RCB's Indian Premier League (IPL) victory in Bengaluru. The tragedy, which resulted in 11 deaths and dozens of injuries, occurred when an unexpectedly large crowd—reportedly between 200,000 to 300,000 people—gathered outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, overwhelming security and crowd control measures. The arrests include officials from RCB and an event management company, with charges such as culpable homicide and unlawful assembly being filed. The Karnataka state government has suspended five senior police officers, including the city's police chief, for negligence, and ordered a CID probe into the incident. RCB expressed condolences and pledged financial compensation to the families of the deceased, while public criticism has focused on inadequate crowd management and the decision to allow free or widely accessible entry to the celebration. The incident marks a rare and tragic occurrence of fan deaths at a sporting event in India, prompting calls for improved safety protocols in the IPL and other large public gatherings.