BENGALURU: Two persons were killed in the crush as 5,000 people jostled for charity tokens being given out for free rations for the month of Ramzan at Mittaganahalli near Yelahanka on Thursday.
The deceased have been identified as Rehmathunnisa (65) and Anwar Pasha (75).
The charity event was organised by a Shivajinagar resident Yousuf, who annually donates provisions to the needy a month before Ramzan. Beneficiaries are given tokens against which they get rations at an outlet in Shivajinagar.
The tokens were being distributed at Yousuf’s choultry on Thursday. People began arriving since Wednesday afternoon and by Thursday morning there was a queue more than 1.5 half km long. When the issue of tokens started the morning, it triggered a jostling in which two persons, Rehmathunnisa and Pasha, were crushed.
They were rushed to a nearby hospital, but were declared brought dead, police said.
Police rushed to the spot upon learning of the stampede and resorted to a mild cane charge to disperse the crowd.
Staff of Yousuf’s choultry have been picked up for questioning by the Bagalur police.