Bengaluru, Dec 28 (NationPress) In 2025, Karnataka drew national attention for a multitude of tragic events, from a stampede that resulted in 11 fatalities during the celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first IPL title, to a staggering cyber scam in which criminals siphoned off Rs 31.83 crore. The state faced a slew of chilling incidents, including a bold bank heist in Bengaluru, heart-wrenching murders of young children, and alarming crimes against women that contributed to an unsettling crime rate.

Adding to the sorrowful account was the brutal slaying of a seven-month pregnant woman by her father in Hubballi, an incident deemed an honour killing, raising serious concerns, especially for a state known for its progressive values.

The stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru took place on June 4, 2025, during the festivities celebrating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's historic IPL victory. What should have been a momentous occasion morphed into a national tragedy owing to severe overcrowding and alleged mismanagement.

Eleven individuals lost their lives, and over 50 were injured. Most of the deceased were young fans and students, including a 13-year-old girl.

This tragic event dampened the enthusiasm of cricket fans, who later faced disappointment when permission to host the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium was denied. Fans are now hoping for cricket to resume in the city during the 2026 IPL season.

Bengaluru also experienced one of its largest cash-only robberies in history, totaling Rs 7.11 crore, which took place on November 19, 2025. The robbery, notable for its cinematic execution, involved the assailants impersonating government officials.

The Bengaluru City Police managed to solve the case within 60 hours, mobilizing over 200 personnel and recovering nearly the entire amount stolen. The suspects, including a police officer, were tracked across various states.

Another harrowing crime that rocked Karnataka involved the murder of a five-year-old girl in Hubballi. The perpetrator, Ritesh Kumar, a 35-year-old migrant worker from Patna, allegedly lured the child with snacks, assaulted her, and subsequently took her life before fleeing.

Disturbing CCTV footage captured the accused luring the child, which sent shockwaves through the community. The suspect was later killed in a police encounter after attempting to evade arrest. Three police officers sustained injuries during the operation on April 13, 2025.

According to state government statistics, there has been a steady increase in cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, rising from 2,197 cases in 2019 to 4,096 in 2025.

Another incident that garnered national media attention was the molestation of a woman returning home late at night in Bengaluru. In April 2025, a woman was stalked and groped by an unknown assailant in a secluded lane in Sadduguntepalya. The incident, captured on CCTV, sparked public outrage.

The assault took place around 2 a.m. on April 4, 2025, in a narrow alley under the jurisdiction of the Sadduguntepalya police station. The remarks made by Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara, stating that such occurrences are common in large cities, drew criticism, although he later claimed his comments were misconstrued.

The suspect, 26-year-old Santosh, was apprehended on April 14, 2025. He reportedly confessed to the crime, stating he was intoxicated at the time. Charges against him included molestation, sexual harassment, and stalking.

Furthermore, a shocking case emerged involving a woman named Lakshmidevamma, who was murdered with her remains dismembered into 19 pieces, scattered across various locations in the Tumakuru district. Her son-in-law, a dentist, along with two accomplices, was arrested in connection with the crime, allegedly over disputes regarding his marriage.

Government data showed a decline in molestation and rape cases over the past three years, with 6,489 molestation cases reported in 2023, decreasing to 5,324 in 2025. Similarly, the number of reported rape cases fell from 600 in 2023 to 517 in 2025.

Revenge killings in the communally sensitive coastal regions of Karnataka made headlines and raised alarm about public safety. These incidents led the state government to establish a Special Action Force in the coastal area and introduce the controversial Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025.

In Mangaluru, a significant revenge murder occurred in May 2025, involving the brutal killing of Suhas Shetty, a rowdy-sheeter and Hindu activist, who was implicated in the 2022 murder of Mohammad Fazil. The incident heightened communal tensions and fears of retaliatory violence, reminiscent of past communal clashes in the area.

Suhas Shetty was killed on May 1 by a gang armed with machetes while he was traveling with associates. He was a member of Bajrang Dal and the prime suspect in the murder of Mohammad Fazil, who was killed in retaliation for the murder of BJP worker Praveen Kumar Nettaru during the hijab controversy.

This murder triggered a series of revenge killings in the coastal region, with communal tensions threatening to spill over into other parts of the state. Karnataka Police arrested 12 individuals linked to the case, and following demands from BJP leaders, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation. The BJP alleged the involvement of the banned Popular Front of India and possible external influences.

In a subsequent incident, Imtiyaz, a 42-year-old pickup driver and mosque secretary, was brutally murdered in broad daylight near Ira Kodi in Bantwal taluk as an apparent act of revenge connected to the murder of Suhas Shetty.

Despite these shocking incidents, state statistics indicate a decrease in overall murder cases, from 1,365 in 2022 to 1,131 in 2025.

Karnataka also fell victim to one of the largest cyber frauds in Bengaluru on November 17, when a 57-year-old senior IT executive was reportedly cheated out of Rs 31.83 crore over a year in a meticulously orchestrated digital arrest scam. The fraudsters impersonated officials from various government agencies.

This incident represents the highest amount lost by a single victim to a digital scam in the state. The victim received a call on September 15, 2024, claiming a parcel in her name contained illegal items. Despite her denials, she was told her identity had been compromised and was transferred to fake cybercrime officials.

Under threats and manipulation, the victim remained under constant digital surveillance, including during hospital visits, until the criminals vanished in March 2025.

Government statistics revealed that 22,255 cyber fraud cases were recorded in 2023, increasing to 22,479 in 2024, but dropping to 13,104 in 2025.

As the year concluded, the alleged honour killing of a seven-month pregnant woman by her father and relatives in Haveri district sent shockwaves throughout the state. This was compounded by a tragic incident on December 25, when a sleeper coach bus caught fire following a collision with a container truck in Chitradurga district, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals, leaving Karnataka reeling once more.