Within the aftermath of the June 4 Bengaluru stampede that left 11 lifeless and several other injured, Karnataka Director-Basic and Inspector-Basic of Police M A Saleem has issued normal working procedures (SOP) to enhance crowd administration throughout giant occasions and mass gatherings throughout the state.
In an order launched on June 26, Saleem instructed police models to conduct simulations and threat assessments earlier than occasions. These embody spatial evaluation to determine bottlenecks and high-risk areas, alongside obligatory security audits of venues. Saleem made it clear that occasions failing security audits shouldn’t obtain approval.
The SOPs emphasise strong coordination with occasion organisers, requiring particulars like anticipated crowd measurement, occasion nature, meeting and dispersal plans, and the provision of emergency providers. Saleem directed police officers to organize thorough crowd administration plans, assigning clear roles, defining motion management protocols, and growing emergency response methods.
The deployment of adequately skilled personnel, efficient entry screening, queue administration techniques, signage, and dependable communication infrastructure is now obligatory. An outlined command construction should even be established to make sure environment friendly on-ground operations. For emergency preparedness, Saleem ordered that emergency response plans be drafted and drills carried out prematurely. Coaching periods are additionally required to make sure operational readiness throughout occasions.
The SOPs embody a selected protocol for crowd dispersal, with Saleem urging officers to make use of power solely when “completely obligatory and within the minimal required amount”. He instructed police to keep away from mass arrests except legally justified and emphasised correct documentation and adherence to arrest procedures when required.