Kolkata stampede: SIT to probe security lapses after 19 deaths; 7 arrested

KOLKATA: Seven people, including the secretary and vice-president of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samity, have been arrested in connection with the stampede at the Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata that left 19 people dead and 25 hospitalised.The state government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the tragedy, with investigators examining possible lapses in crowd management and security arrangements.Those arrested include Raj Kumar Sewda, alias Raja (48), the puja committee's secretary, and Santanu Dubey (55), its vice-president. The other accused are Biplab Mukherjee, alias Joy (48), who was involved in constructing the bamboo structure at the pandal; Koushik Saha (53), who was responsible for crowd control and checking VIP passes; Pintu Dey (51), who was engaged in crowd management; and private security in-charges Suman Chakraborty (30) and Rajesh Pal (29).Kolkata Police have registered a suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the stampede, an officer said. The case was registered at Girish Park police station under Sections 105, 110 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the organisers and others.A forensic team visited the site, while police began questioning puja committee members, security personnel and police officers to establish the sequence of events leading to the stampede.

West Bengal minister Umesh Rai, who visited Calcutta Medical College and Hospital to meet the injured, said the SIT would examine the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible for any negligence.“This is a very tragic accident. The chief minister had called for action against those responsible yesterday. We are forming an SIT, which will investigate the entire incident and the circumstances in which it occurred,” Rai said.

Rain, overcrowding and entry-exit movement under scanner

Giving a preliminary account of the incident, Rai said the pandal had witnessed heavy footfall over the past several days. When it began raining, a large number of visitors rushed inside to take shelter, while those already inside struggled to get out.The situation worsened as people continued entering from one side even as others attempted to leave through the other, he said. The pandal's dark interiors, part of its themed setup, added to the difficulties, though Rai said darkness alone was not responsible for the stampede.“When it started raining, people inside could not leave the pandal, while a large number of people continued to enter from behind. The stampede occurred at that point,” he said.Rai alleged that the puja organisers and the security agency responsible for crowd management had failed to discharge their duties. The SIT will investigate the alleged lapses, and strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence, he said.Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said preliminary information received from the assistant commissioner of police present at the spot suggested that an announcement made by a private security agency and the blowing of whistles may have triggered the incident.Adhikari said puja committee members and security agency personnel had been detained for questioning. He assured that the investigation would be conducted transparently and that the government would provide assistance to the affected families.“As a chief minister, I can't give a statement before the investigation is over, but I assure that proper investigation will be done with full transparency. The puja committee members and the security agencies have been detained. All kind of support will be provided to all families. This is a very, very sad incident,” he said.

Minister appeals against politicising tragedy

Rai appealed to political parties to refrain from politicising the incident, saying the immediate priority should be to assist the injured and support the families of those who died.“Those inclined toward politics will find an opportunity to play politics anywhere; however, I believe that in such adverse circumstances, the most significant humanitarian gesture is to stand by those who are injured and the families who have lost their loved ones. It would be far better to keep politics out of this,” he said.The minister also urged Durga Puja organisers across West Bengal to review crowd management arrangements, increase the number of entry and exit gates and ensure adequate lighting, particularly at crowded pandals with poorly lit interiors.With celebrations scheduled to continue over the next three to four days, he asked organisers to take immediate steps to prevent overcrowding and avoid similar incidents.“We want Durga Puja to be celebrated and for people to enjoy themselves, but it is essential that no accidents occur. The organisers of the Durga Puja celebrations must keep this in mind,” he said.

Political programmes cancelled

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya also provided an update on the patient reported to be critical, saying doctors were hopeful of recovery.

The patient was being shifted to a private hospital, with the medical expenses to be covered, he said.Bhattacharya announced that Union home minister Amit Shah's scheduled programmes in West Bengal on Sunday had been cancelled following the tragedy. Nitin Nabin's planned visit to the state was also called off.Adhikari announced the cancellation of all events scheduled for Sunday in view of the incident.

The investigation is expected to examine the movement of visitors inside the pandal, the arrangements for entry and exit, the role of the organisers and private security personnel, and the circumstances surrounding the announcement and whistles before the stampede.