Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari gives Rs 25 lakh to family of mother-son dead in Kolkata Durga Puja stampede

Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday handed over Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to the family members of a woman and her son from Purba Bardhaman district who died in the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede, while Cooch Behar police arrested a man for “spreading misinformation” about the death toll.

The chief minister assured the family members of Togor Bej, 37, and Sandip, Bej, 14, of all possible assistance.

"I have no words to console you, nor do I have the power to bring back those who have left us,” Adhikari told the family members at their residence in Madhabdihi area of Purba Bardhaman district, around 110 km north-west of Kolkata..

“I can feel your pain. I am giving you the Rs 25 lakh ex gratia," he said.

The chief minister is also scheduled to visit the residence of Piyali Pramanik, who also died in the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede, in Arambagh in Hooghly district.

Pramanik was Togor's sister-in-law.

Nineteen people were killed and 25 injured in a stampede at the Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday evening.

Arrest in Cooch Behar

The special task force of the Bengal police have arrested a man from Cooch Behar district for allegedly spreading misinformation on social media about the toll in the Chorebagan Durga Puja stampede, a senior officer said on Tuesday.

"We have arrested a person for spreading misinformation about the toll in the Chorbagan pandal mishap. He was picked up from his residence on Monday. We will not tolerate any attempt that could disrupt law and order in the state," the officer told PTI.

The arrested person, Ainul Haque, is a resident of Cooch Behar, he said.

"We are concerned over the circulation of false information on social media,” the officer said. “Some people claimed that 60 people had died in the incident.”