Bengaluru stampede: Silence from Human Rights Commission raises questions

Even as 11 people tragically lost their lives in the stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has remained conspicuously silent, drawing sharp criticism from activists and citizens alike.

Also Read: Bengaluru Stampede: Paying tribute to 11 innocent lives we lost

The deadly incident, triggered by a massive surge of RCB fans trying to enter the stadium area, is being attributed to poor crowd control and administrative failure. Despite the scale of the tragedy, the Human Rights Commission has not initiated any inquiry nor taken suo motu cognizance of the matter.

Several rights groups argue that the commission should have immediately registered a suo motu case and launched an investigation, especially since loss of life occurred due to apparent negligence by public authorities. Critics also point out that the KSHRC headquarters is located barely 1 kilometer from the site of the incident, yet no representative has visited the area or met with victims' families.

The absence of action has raised concerns about accountability and the role of institutions tasked with protecting civil rights. Given that this was not a natural disaster but a preventable man-made tragedy, activists demand that the Human Rights Commission act urgently and transparently.

As public anger simmers, many are questioning whether institutions meant to uphold justice will respond or remain silent spectators.