Happiest moment turned into something tragic: Kohli reflects on Bengaluru stampede
Bengaluru (PTI): India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting superstar Virat Kohli has opened up about the June 4 stampede during his franchise's IPL victory celebrations here, saying "nothing in life really prepares you for the heartbreak" of 11 deaths on what should have been the happiest day for his side.
The tragic incident occurred when an estimated 2.5 lakh fans thronged the at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate RCB's maiden IPL title.
"Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise's history...turned into something tragic," Kohli was quoted as saying by RCB on its 'X' handle.
"I've been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost...and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect and responsibility," he added in his first elaborate comment on the mishap that led to widespread criticism of the franchise as well.
An official inquiry into the incident attributed the chaos to the lack of proper clearances and the overwhelming crowd, which surged in response to social media invitations sent out by the franchise.
The police admitted to being grossly outnumbered to manage the turnout and RCB was held responsible in the probe for encouraging the fans to come out in numbers.
In the aftermath, RCB announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of the deceased and pledged to take "meaningful action" in their memory.
It also launched a foundation, RCB Cares, which has promised to work closely with stadium authorities, sporting bodies and league partners to design better crowd management protocols.
“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history… turned into something tragic. I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost… and for our fans who were injured. Your… pic.twitter.com/nsJrKDdKWB
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) September 3, 2025
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1,850 missing mobile phones recovered as Delhi Police focusses on victim-centric policing
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has recovered 1,850 stolen and lost mobile phones worth around Rs 4 crore in past 40 days under "Mission Reconnect", an initiative aimed at returning phones to their rightful owners in outernorth Delhi, an official said on Saturday.
The recovered phones were traced from different parts of the country, including remote areas, through technical surveillance and sustained field operations, police said, adding that the devices were handed over to their owners during a programme at the Sports Ground, New Police Lines, Kingsway Camp.
The initiative focused on a victim-centric approach and aimed at strengthening public trust through proactive policing and coordinated efforts across states, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outernorth) Hareshwar Swami said.
As part of the programme, teams performed 'nukkad nataks' and screened awareness videos on cybercrime, drug abuse prevention, and senior citizen safety, sensitising the public about digital frauds and safety measures, officials said.
The initiative combines technology, investigation and community participation to ensure recovery of lost property and reconnect citizens with their valuables, they added.
