Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, July 31: In a major reshuffle following the M Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that claimed 11 lives, senior IPS officer B Dayananda has been posted as additional director general of police (ADGP), Prisons, while the state government has also revoked the suspension of Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Vikash Kumar Vikash.

The development comes a day after Malini Krishnamoorthy, director general of police (Prisons), retired from service. Dayananda, who was under suspension and awaiting posting, has now been appointed to the downgraded post of ADGP, Prisons, with immediate effect.

Both Dayananda and Vikash were among five officers suspended in the aftermath of the June 4 stampede during an event at the stadium, where a crowd surge led to the death of 11 people and injuries to many others.

The state government had earlier reinstated Dayananda and other officers barring Vikash, whose suspension continued due to a pending inquiry in the High Court. However, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), responding to a petition filed by Vikash, had quashed the suspension order and directed the state to extend parity in treatment. While the government has challenged the CAT ruling in the High Court, it has now revoked Vikash’s suspension as well.

Meanwhile, Shekhar H Tekkannavar, who was deputy commissioner of police (Central) during the incident, has been posted as superintendent of police, Intelligence, Bengaluru.

The suspensions of two other officers – then Assistant Commissioner of Police (Cubbon Park) C Balakrishna and then Cubbon Park police station inspector A K Girish – have also been lifted. Their new postings are yet to be announced.

The suspension revocations were made pending the initiation of formal disciplinary proceedings, the government clarified.