NHRC issues show-cause notice over stampede death at Pushpa 2 screening

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to Telangana Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, asking why it should not recommend a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the next of kin of a woman who died in a stampede during the pre-release screening of Pushpa 2 on December 4 last year.

The action follows a complaint filed by advocate Rama Rao Immaneni regarding the death of 35-year-old Revathi and critical injuries to her son after an alleged lathi charge by the police and stampede at Sandhya 70mm theatre in Chikkadpally, Hyderabad, when actor Allu Arjun suddenly arrived for the screening.

The initial report submitted by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), Hyderabad City, on March 20, stated that permission for the event was rejected and that allegations of lathi charge were false. It further submitted that during inquiry, it had come to light that the complaint was filed to divert attention from the theatre management’s responsibility in this incident. The report claimed that police had made crowd control arrangements as professionally done for movie releases, and that the officers on duty “exhibited exceptional proactive response” in managing and controlling the unexpected crowd and also rescued the deceased woman and shifted her to KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad, for better treatment.

However, the NHRC, after reviewing the matter, questioned why the police allowed the crowd, Allu Arjun and the theatre management to gather for an event in the absence of permission. The NHRC’s proceedings dated May 2 expressed concern that the police did not take legal action against the actor and management at the very first occurrence, prior to the incident itself, for breaking the law and attending unlawful events.

“The Commission fails to understand why the police allowed the crowd/ accused actor/ management to collect at the place for the event which did not have the permission,” the notice read.

On December 5 last year, a case was registered against the theatre management, Allu Arjun and his security staff. Ten people, including the actor, were arrested. The investigation is under way.

The Commission, after considering the report on record, held that “there was a negligence and lapse in maintaining the public order in the part of police authorities in providing adequate assistance and ensure the safety when it was clear that there will be a huge crowd gathering”.

It also directed the Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), Hyderabad, to ensure fair investigation into the matter and submit a status report in the case within six weeks.